Richard Pillaca

Hi, I'm Richard!

πŸ“ Toronto, ONΒ·πŸŽ“ UBC '25

I love data, business, technology, and the ways they can work together to create extraordinary tools for people.

I believe thoughtful engineering makes life more intuitive. I want to bring more of it into the world, whether through my automated pipelines, the products I build, or the businesses I help scale.

I grew up in Peru, moved to British Columbia for university, and recently relocated to Toronto. Along the way, I went from processing thousands of bike-share records for visualization to building PHP club management systems and delivering freelance solutions for clients across industries.

My Communities

The people who make it all worth it ❀️

L

Latin American Student Association β€” UBCO

VP Internal of a student-led club celebrating Latin American culture at UBC Okanagan. I managed logistics, budgets, and compliance, drove marketing through reels and targeted ads, and built partnerships with other clubs to co-host events and cut costs.

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LASO community 🌎

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Event night

A network connecting Spanish-speaking professionals in tech across Canada. I'm an active member, using this community to grow my network, share insights, and support other Latinos breaking into the Canadian tech industry.

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Hispanotech community

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Networking event

W

Wealthsimple Foundation

Selected as a member of the Wealthsimple Foundation program focused on economic empowerment. Working alongside driven peers to build financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills in underserved communities.

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Program kickoff

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Community meetup

O

Okanagan Tech Industry Night

Co-founded and coordinated OTIN β€” a 200+ person networking event connecting Okanagan College and UBCO students with industry professionals. I secured sponsorships, coordinated VIP guests and judging panels, and ran end-to-end event logistics.

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OTIN event night 🎀

B

BrainTrainr

Web content and UX lead at BrainTrainr β€” a platform empowering social impact through AI-powered learning. I help shape the product's voice and user experience to close the education gap across underserved communities.

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Platform overview

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Dashboard

A

Alianza Latina Canada

Member of Alianza Latina Canada β€” a national network building unity and data power for the Latino community across Canada. We work to amplify Latino voices through data, advocacy, and community programming.

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Alianza Latina πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦

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Community event

C

Cursor AI Community

Active member of the Cursor AI community β€” connecting with developers who are pushing the boundaries of AI-assisted coding. Sharing insights and collaborating on best practices for modern development workflows.

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Community event

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Meetup

C

Canadian Cancer Society

Volunteered with the Canadian Cancer Society to support fundraising and community outreach programs, contributing to awareness campaigns and community health initiatives.

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CCS πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦

Scale Without Borders is a platform for newcomers in tech. I actively participate in this community to help other immigrants navigate the Canadian tech landscape and build meaningful connections.

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Community Meetup

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Tech Workshop

Exploring

14 countries and counting. Moving across continents taught me to adapt quickly and communicate clearly β€” even when the words aren't perfect.

πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦CanadaπŸ‡΅πŸ‡ͺPeruπŸ‡¬πŸ‡§UKπŸ‡¨πŸ‡­SwitzerlandπŸ‡¬πŸ‡·GreeceπŸ‡²πŸ‡½MexicoπŸ‡ͺπŸ‡¨EcuadorπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈUSAπŸ‡©πŸ‡΄Dom. Republic✨and more
United Kingdom πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§

United Kingdom πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§

Greece πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·

Greece πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·

Peru πŸ‡΅πŸ‡ͺ

Peru πŸ‡΅πŸ‡ͺ

Education
U

University of British Columbia

B.Sc. Computer Science β€” Minor in Economics

Sep 2021 – Nov 2025 | Kelowna, BC

Beyond Work

⚽ Football

I've been playing football for 10+ years. Started with flat feet and no technique β€” now I hold my own against people who grew up with a ball at their feet. That same stubbornness shows up in my debugging.

🌍 Travel

14 countries and counting. Moving across continents taught me to adapt quickly and communicate clearly even when the words aren't perfect.

πŸ’ƒ Dance

Salsa, bachata, and anything that keeps me moving. Coming from Peru, rhythm is part of the package.

πŸ—£οΈ Languages

Spanish (native), English (fluent), French (learning β€” intensive 4hr/day study right now). I believe learning a language and learning a programming language require the same muscle: pattern recognition + daily practice.

Football ⚽

Football ⚽

Running πŸƒ

Running πŸƒ

Shelf

I love discovering new hidden food spots, getting excited about beautifully designed stationery, and listening to audiobooks on long drives.

Music 🎡

Music 🎡

Sports πŸƒ

Sports πŸƒ

Movies 🎬

Movies 🎬

Music 🎢

Music 🎢

Sports πŸƒ

Sports πŸƒ

Movies 🎬

Movies 🎬

Currently

Reading Malcolm Gladwell. Listening to AI Chat. Learning French. Training for the next football season.