Dave Ojika, PhD

Dave Ojika, PhD, is an accomplished professional in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and engineering, currently serving as an Advisory Board Member at TERAWORK as part of the Google BFF'AFRICA 22 initiative. He is also the founder of Flapmax and the FAST Accelerator, both aimed at promoting AI accessibility and supporting African startups through business development and technology integration.1

Education and Academic Background

Dr. Ojika holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida, where he focused on systems and networking, particularly in AI and compute accelerators. He also earned a Master's degree in Computer Engineering from the same institution, specializing in computer vision and cloud computing. Additionally, he has a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from California State University-Los Angeles, concentrating on computer architecture and biomedical engineering.1

Professional Experience

• Founder, Flapmax (March 2020 - Present): Focused on accelerating AI technologies for widespread use.
• Founder, FAST Accelerator (January 2022 - Present): A program designed to empower Africa-focused startups with resources for scaling.
• Judge and Mentor, MassChallenge (May 2020 - December 2022): Involved in selecting innovative startups for acceleration programs.
• Research Scientist & Faculty Member, University of Florida (2019 - 2020): Led AI project initiatives and contributed to significant advancements in deep learning models.
• Senior Consultant & Principal Engineer, Dell EMC (2018 - 2019): Worked on AI infrastructure projects across various sectors.

Contributions to Technology

Dr. Ojika has been actively involved in advancing AI technologies through various roles, including partnerships with major corporations like Intel. His work includes developing innovative software frameworks and contributing to standards for clinical IoT data interoperability.1

Current Engagements

In addition to his advisory role at TERAWORK, Dr. Ojika continues to engage with the tech community through various initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and sustainability in AI applications.23

Overall, Dr. Ojika's extensive background in engineering, coupled with his entrepreneurial ventures, positions him as a significant contributor to the growth of technology and innovation in Africa and beyond.