Technical Lead Paras Saxena shares how a knack for puzzles and competitiveness turned into a career in web development. As well as his hidden talents, and thoughts on the future of Vestd India.
I’ve been interested in computers since I was a kid. I wrote my first lines of code in Class 4 using LOGO and BASIC. Just drawing shapes on a screen was exciting back then.
In college, I spent a lot of time solving puzzles and doing competitive programming on HackerRank. That slowly led me into web development.
I started with .NET and Angular, and eventually moved to the MERN stack. Once I realised I could build things people actually use, I was hooked.
“Just start and things will fall into place.” That’s the advice that’s helped me the most. Some of the best things I’ve worked on began with uncertainty.
I’ve learned that waiting for the perfect moment often means never starting at all. The real growth happens when you take the first step and figure things out as you go.
The one person who truly inspires me is Jitendra Chouksey, the founder of Fittr.
Jitendra Chouksey (pictured). Photo credit: Jitendra Chouksey
I really admire how transparent and approachable he is. He shares genuine knowledge without promoting any brands, and he’s always open to feedback, often implementing suggestions from the community.
What he’s built has transformed the lives of over 3 lakh people, and he’s done it while staying grounded and consistent. That’s what makes him stand out to me.
My day usually starts with checking Slack and emails, followed by sync-ups with the team. Then I focus on building features, improving existing ones, handling tricky edge cases (a.k.a. bug fixes), and reviewing code.
I also spend time understanding client needs to make sure what we build works well in real-world scenarios. Every day brings something new, which keeps it interesting.
I enjoy most of it - the flexibility, the focused environment, and the time saved from commuting are big pluses.
The only thing I miss is the in-person vibe: quick coffee breaks, spontaneous chats, and whiteboard moments. But overall, it’s a setup that works really well for me. And there are things we do at Vestd to bridge the gap.
I’m excited about the opportunity to bring together the best of both platforms. Both have different strengths, and it’s been great to see things from another perspective and contribute to something bigger.
I’m also looking forward to learning more about UK share schemes - it’s a new and interesting area for me.
One moment I’m really proud of was building the Intimation/Commitment to Grant feature.
It was a big, unique requirement that was critical for a major client. We delivered it ahead of time and with perfection. It continues to be used intensively today, and it feels great to know it made a real impact.
One of my main goals is to level up my AWS skills - not just using services, but understanding how to design secure, scalable infrastructure from the ground up.
I’m also focusing more on system architecture and decision-making beyond just writing code.
Working with the Vestd team has been a great opportunity to learn new patterns, tools, and ways of thinking about product development at scale.
I can pick up almost any musical instrument and play tunes by ear within minutes. It’s a random skill, but it always surprises people! 🎸🎹
Playing football, skating, jamming on instruments, catching up with friends over a beer, or heading out on a bike ride. I like weekends that have a bit of everything - relaxing and fun.