CEO Illustrates the Impact of Education

Sameer Maskey, a native of Kathmandu, Nepal, has defied the odds and achieved great success in the field of computer science and artificial intelligence. From humble beginnings with little exposure to the internet, Maskey is now the founder and CEO of Fusemachines, a machine learning company that offers AI products such as information extraction and fraud detection. Additionally, he holds the position of Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University.

Maskey’s journey to success was anything but conventional. After high school, he set his sights on studying in the US and eventually landed a full scholarship at Bates College. It was there that he discovered his passion for computer science during the dot-com bubble era, leading him to pursue a PhD in the field at Columbia University.

Driven by a desire to make a difference, Maskey eventually left his job at IBM Watson to start Fusemachines in 2013. The company quickly gained traction, securing the New York City government as its first client. Despite initial challenges in enterprise sales, Fusemachines went on to work with prominent companies like Time, OTG, and H&M.

Beyond his professional success, Maskey is committed to giving back to underserved communities. In 2017, Fusemachines launched a free educational program in Nepal, which later expanded to Latin America. The program, known as the Fusemachines AI Fellowship, offers courses in machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, all at no cost to participants.

Maskey’s vision extends beyond just providing education; he believes in democratizing AI and making it accessible to all, regardless of background or location. By empowering individuals with AI skills, Maskey hopes to foster innovation and development within communities worldwide. His dedication to education and inclusivity serves as a testament to the transformative power of computer science and AI.