Hamza Mostafa, a 21-year-old software engineering student from Canada, landed an internship at OpenAI in San Francisco. Mostafa initially pursued a career in medicine but shifted his focus after taking a high school computer science class. He moved to San Francisco in October 2025 to explore opportunities in tech, believing it is the best place to learn from industry leaders.
Mostafa's journey included internships at early-stage startups in Canada, where he discovered his preference for the startup environment. He recommends attending tech events in San Francisco to build connections and find job opportunities. During one of his internships in Canada, he visited San Francisco frequently, attending events and meeting engineers, which led to his internship at a company in San Mateo. His network grew quickly, and he applied for an internship at OpenAI, where he learned to work more efficiently.
Mostafa continues to explore his future in tech, with a strong interest in startups or starting his own company. He emphasizes the importance of being in San Francisco for career growth in the tech industry.