Jay Jo

Hi! My name is Jay. I'm currently studying Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), spending time between the U.S., Singapore, and Korea.

Please reach out, I would love to chat! ā˜•

Jay Jo

About Me

Professional

I'm currently a third-year undergrad at UIUC studying Computer Science, with three semesters left.

My primary interests lie in creating impactful software through full-stack development, while I'm also exploring the exciting field of AI/ML. I'm strongly interested in pursuing ML research during the rest of my time at UIUC.

I have strong knowledge and experience with low-level systems programming, as well as comfortability with data structures and database systems. I take pride in fully challenging myself to excel in a rigorous and technically-focused CS program.

I took time off from school to work at NXN Labs in Korea, where I had the opportunity to gain insights into the operational and business challenges of running a startup, such as navigating market fit, scaling teams, and complexities regarding raising funding.

Wrapping up my time at NXN Labs, I’m looking for a software engineering internship opportunity to deepen my development skills. I aim to sharpen my expertise in building scalable systems, writing efficient and maintainable code, and collaborating within larger engineering teams.

Personal

  • Born in the U.S., raised in Singapore, but rooted in my Korean heritage (dual citizen of the U.S. and Korea).
  • Personal strengths of mine that I value:
    • Empathetic and people-centered problem solver šŸ•Šļø: able to understand and connect with others, listen deeply, and act with sensitivity at an exceptional level. In a work context this allows me to anticipate needs, resolve conflicts, and foster strong collaboration.
    • Driven and proactive in high-stakes environments šŸš€: highly self-motivated and willing to put in long hours to see a project through to success.
    • Visual eye for detail and precision šŸŽØ: strong ability to notice nuances others might overlook, whether that be in design aesthetics, or in project workflows.
  • Some of my interests:
    • love running in the scorching sun
    • visiting art museums in new cities
    • finding healthier ways to eat the foods I love
  • View my old art portfolio here!

Work Experience

Chief of Staff Intern @ NXN Labs

Oct. 2024 – Mar. 2025  |  Seoul, South Korea

  • Wore many hats as the first intern at a fast-growing startup specializing in B2B generative AI on-model imagery and virtual try-on, founded by Stanford engineers and backed by VCs.
  • Worked directly with the CEO to navigate the complexities of a Delaware flip, including entity structuring, cap table restructuring, and stock option plan implementation. Also drove efforts to engage with top U.S. VC firms for a seed round.
  • Contributed to product and business development by assisting with product presentation decks and identifying potential e-commerce partners for global expansion.
  • Worked closely with the engineering team to lead quality control efforts for AI-generated on-model images, ensuring accuracy and excellence for local e-commerce partners.

Projects

Productivity, Visualized. A graph-based task management app that brings clarity to your chaos.

MindFlow main view
MindFlow feature 1
MindFlow feature 2

The Vision

I built MindFlow out of frustration with traditional to-do apps that bury tasks in endless lists. MindFlow introduces a more intuitive and visual approach to task management that helps users see connections between tasks and bring structure to their daily workflow. I also just wanted to work on something meaningful while learning React for the first time. My ambitious goal is to scale this for real users, though I'm still early in that journey.

Key Features

  • Mind Map Visualization – Interactive D3.js graph for tasks and categories
  • Date-Based Navigation – View and plan tasks for past, present, or future days
  • Auto-Rollover Tasks – Unfinished tasks automatically move to today
  • Priority Tags – Visual priority indicators (low/medium/high)
  • Daily Stats – Track progress and completion rates in the sidebar

Tech Stack

React TypeScript Tailwind CSS D3.js Firebase Framer Motion Vite

Current Status & Roadmap

MindFlow is currently functional but I'm in the process of migrating from Firebase to a more scalable Node.js + MongoDB backend. I have an extensive feature roadmap including drag-and-drop node reordering, recurring tasks, calendar integration, and AI-powered natural language input. See the full roadmap on GitHub to get a sense of where this project is headed.

Illini BookBridge

A social platform for UIUC students to discover books and connect with fellow readers.

Book search feature
Search results
User profile
Likes shelf

Overview

Illini BookBridge is a web application that allows UIUC students to discover books and connect with fellow readers. Unlike general platforms like Goodreads, it creates a secure community by requiring @illinois.edu email verification, enabling students to comfortably share their reading interests and build connections with peers who have similar tastes. The platform combines book discovery with social networking features specifically designed for the campus community.


Emphasis was not on frontend development, but on backend logic using MySQL: schema design, advanced queries, stored procedures, and triggers.

Tech Stack

MySQL Node.js Express JavaScript Bootstrap