Osaretin Johnson
I'm a full-stack developer based in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. I build real-world AI systems, client platforms, and tools that solve problems people actually have, and I've won 5 national hackathons doing it.
About Me
If you ask people who know me, they'd probably just say: very spontaneous.
Down to the wire: hackathon laptop, mid-crisis
I started coding because I wanted to understand how the apps I used every day actually worked. That curiosity is still what shows up under pressure, like the time a hackathon app I was building fell apart with a minute left on the clock. I was fighting sleep, out of time to debug anything else, so I just stopped and presented the last version that still ran. Thank goodness for GitHub.
Where it all started: Cortex Hub
What Drives Me
I believe technology should be accessible and inclusive, because I know what it's like not to have that access. There wasn't a tech community I knew of anywhere in East London, so when Cortex Hub gave students like me a place to land, I made it my job to help build it into somewhere worth coming back to. Every workshop I run is a step toward a more connected South Africa.
Beyond the Code
Honestly? I'm not that athletic. I hate running and exercise in general. But I love swimming even though I still can't really swim, and I'll always say yes to tennis purely for how fun it is, win or lose. Rowing is the one that stuck with me most: some of the best times of my life happened on the water.
Tennis: bad at it, love it anyway
Still can't really swim
Best days of my life, on the water
These days I've picked up a new love for painting, and if you'd told 14-year-old me, who was busy being a radio host at Forte FM, that she'd end up building fintech apps and AI systems, I don't think she'd have believed you.
My Tech Stack
How I Work
a3f9c2e understand()
I start by talking to the people the problem actually affects. Before building the SMME funding platform, I needed to understand why small businesses were failing to access grants that existed, not just that they were failing.
e71b4a0 ideate()
I think in systems before I think in code. At the Swedish-South African hackathon, the winning idea wasn't the most technical; it was the one that made the most sense for the communities it was meant to serve.
c02f8e1 build()
I ship under pressure. I've delivered production-ready AI systems in 48-hour hackathons and maintained clean architecture doing it. Speed doesn't excuse mess.
91ad6f3 deploy()
Getting it live is only the beginning. The platforms I've built for clients (WasteTakers, InnoCom, CitizenTV) are up and running.
5d4e2b7 learn()
Every project leaves me with something I'd do differently. I write it down. That's why each build is faster and cleaner than the last.
Education & Certifications
My academic journey and professional certifications that shaped my expertise
BCom Honours
BCom Honours
Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Information Systems
University of Fort Hare · 2025
[ completed ]BCom Degree
BCom Degree
Bachelor of Commerce in Information Systems
University of Fort Hare · 2024
[ completed ]Certifications
AI & ML
AI & ML
Certificate in AI and Machine Learning
MICT-SETA
Data Science
Data Science
Certificate in Introduction to Data Science
Cisco Networking Academy
JavaScript
JavaScript
Certificate in Basics of JavaScript
Cisco Networking Academy
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity
Certificate in Cybersecurity
EBL Institute of Business and Technology
Arduino
Arduino
Arduino Certification on Electronics and Physical Computing
Cortex Hub
Community & Leadership
Beyond building products, I invest in people. I mentor young learners in AI, robotics, and programming, and I founded and organise community initiatives that bring technology to students who wouldn't otherwise have access to it.
The Cortex Accelerator Hub: Winter School Hackathon 2026
Programme & M&E Administration
I coordinate all logistical arrangements for in-person student participants, including transportation and catering, ensuring smooth delivery of the pr...
MCP Hackathon Africa 2025
Organiser & digital marketing lead
I contributed to the planning and coordination of the MCP Hackathon, supporting logistical and organisational aspects of the event. In addition, I cre...
AI for Good 2025
Mentor, Robotics for Good Youth Challenge
I was selected as a mentor for the AI for Good – Robotics for Good Youth Challenge, where I supported young teams as they worked through technical and...
Arduino Sessions
Facilitator, primary and high school learners
I planned and facilitated Arduino workshops for primary and high school learners during the school holidays. The workshops introduced young participan...
Dash Robot Sessions
Lead, hands-on robotics learning
I led hands-on sessions with Dash robots, teaching young learners the fundamentals of robotics and guiding them through interactive activities. In add...
The Cortex Hub Student Club
Founder
It started simply: a group of us coming to the hub to get our school assignments done. But the more time we spent there, the more we realised the spac...
