Hassan Farooq

Dual-degree student in Computer Science and Economics, Founder & CEO

Sydney, AU.

About

Dual-degree student in Computer Science and Economics at UNSW, leveraging a proven entrepreneurial track record, including founding and scaling TravelNation to over $75,000 USD in bootstrapped first-year revenue. Combines robust technical fluency in Python, SQL, and data analysis with sharp commercial acumen in sales, pricing strategy, and client management. Eager to apply this unique blend of technical and business expertise to remote internship opportunities in consulting, trading, venture capital, or technology.

Work

TravelNation

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Founder & CEO

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

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Summary

As Founder & CEO of TravelNation, led the successful launch and scaling of a bootstrapped travel concierge platform, generating over $75,000 USD in first-year revenue by sourcing affordable flights and accommodations for global clients.

Highlights

Spearheaded the launch and growth of a bootstrapped travel concierge platform, achieving over $75,000 USD in first-year revenue by strategically sourcing affordable global flights and accommodations.

Developed and implemented sophisticated end-to-end pricing models, optimizing profitability by identifying and capitalizing on margin opportunities across diverse airline and hotel inventories.

Directed a fully remote client pipeline across diverse international time zones, ensuring high satisfaction and retention through proactive, personalized communication and service delivery.

Executed lean customer acquisition strategies via digital marketing and word-of-mouth referrals, achieving strong unit economics and market penetration with minimal advertising expenditure.

Automated critical booking operations and client tracking through custom internal workflows utilizing Google Sheets and Airtable, enhancing operational efficiency and data management.

Education

University of New South Wales

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Bachelor of Science Computer Science

University of New South Wales

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Bachelor of Economics Economics

Skills

Programming

Python, C, Java, SQL, Git.

Data & Automation

Data Analysis, Web Scraping, Google Sheets Automation, Microsoft Excel, Airtable.

Business

Financial Modelling, Pricing Strategy, Market Research, Lean Startup, Digital Marketing.

Tools

Notion, Canva, Google Workspace, ChatGPT (prompt engineering & automation).

Soft Skills

Client Relationship Management, Cross-timezone Communication, Problem Solving, Self-direction.

Interests

Entrepreneurship

UNSW entrepreneurial community, Startup Strategy, Venture Capital.

Technology

UNSW technical community, Software Development, Algorithmic Trading, Personal Projects, Coursework.

Projects

Unform

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Summary

Developed a conversational AI web platform, replacing traditional static forms with dynamic dialogue to enhance information collection for businesses.

HotelHacker

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Summary

Created a hotel deal-finder platform, a TravelNation spin-off, that automates the discovery of discounted accommodations for users.

Optima - GEO Services Platform

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Summary

Built a Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) agency landing page, focused on helping brands achieve citations on AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude.