Alex Chalakov
Meet Alex, a recent graduate from Emerging Digital Technologies MSc. Find out which aspects of his Master's best prepared him for the role of Founding Engineer and Chief Software Officer at eNOugh.
What is your background?
Originally from Bulgaria, I graduated with first-class honours in Computer Science from Lancaster University. However, at the time, I felt like there was so much more to be learned and researched into the different fields of technology, thus I decided to join the MSc Emerging Digital Technologies program at UCL – it was a blend of exactly what I needed and was looking for.
Tell us a bit about eNOugh and your role within the organisation.
I met the founders of eNOugh at a UCL Incubator event, and after a few months of part-time cooperation, I decided to join full-time after my Master’s finished. At eNOugh we are making an AI-powered protection badge designed to enhance personal safety, particularly for women walking alone.
I’ve had the privilege to assume the role of both a Founding Engineer and a Chief Software Officer – leading software and AI development, including building the badge’s companion app and the infrastructure behind the badge itself.
What are you most proud of with the work you’re doing?
I’ve always believed I can make a positive impact on the world with the technologies I am developing. It is also my main drive behind joining a socially beneficial startup like eNOugh.
We’ve conducted research with 600+ women, self-defence experts, and police officers, concluding that there is a massive problem around personal safety.
Being able to build products from scratch for such a major cause is something I am proud of and I hope we can keep on doing it.
How instrumental was the Emerging Digital Technologies MSc in helping shape your career path?
The Emerging Digital Technologies MSc was instrumental in shaping my career by deep diving into various technological concepts, understanding better what I would do in the future.
The curriculum and project work provided real-world applications, including elements like building MVPs of products, market and persona analysis, as well as financial documentation that directly translated to my current role.
All of this, alongside gaining knowledge from world-class professors and industry experts, has made a noticeable difference in how efficiently I tackle challenges.
What knowledge from the Emerging Digital Technologies Master’s have you found most applicable in your daily work?
The building of practical elements into products, how to design them, and make the most out of the technologies you use are – by far – the most applicable aspects I’ve got from the Emerging Digital Technologies Master’s.
I’ve found out that I regularly use knowledge from the Data Science, Digital Technologies and Business Strategy and Software Engineering and Product Management modules, which has helped me streamline multiple processes in my roles at the startup.
Various concepts taught in the Machine Learning modules are directly applicable to the AI models we are building in our company, so having a strong backbone of knowledge in that area is helpful.
How did you build your professional network while studying at UCL Computer Science?
While studying at UCL I strived to be as proactive as possible, which meant going to a lot of entrepreneurship, research, and technology events organised by various departments in the university and different societies.
These events included speakers coming in and sharing their knowledge, workshop events where specific topics were discussed, and events organised by the UCL Hatchery at BaseKX.
My advice to all postgraduates looking to expand their professional network would be to get out of their comfort zone and be involved as much as possible in anything that interests them.
What can you tell us about the teaching staff on Emerging Digital Technologies MSc?
The teaching staff in the Emerging Digital Technologies programme are renowned for their expertise and approachable manner. Their interactive style, which combined theoretical insights with practical projects, made complex concepts much more accessible and enjoyable to learn.
What definitely left an impression on me was the staff’s dedication, as I had all of my questions and enquiries answered in no time, and conversations with them left me much more enlightened about various topics and concerns I had throughout the course.
This engaging approach significantly enriched my learning experience and has inspired me to pursue further innovation in my field.
Why should prospective students consider Emerging Digital Technologies MSc over other Computer Science programmes?
The main difference between the two is that MSc Emerging Digital Technologies provides a much wider spectrum of knowledge across multiple areas of the field, so I’d say if you want to become more than just a Software Engineer and have a broader idea of how technologies work and can be implemented into businesses – EDT is the choice for you.
Bringing together computing and business strategy would allow you to be a true innovator in your desired sphere, which is instrumental in the current rapidly-developing industry.
Want to learn more about our Emerging Digital Technologies MSc?
Visit our online prospectus where you will find detailed information about Emerging Digital Technologies MSc. You can browse modules, learn more about our teaching, and explore the skills and knowledge you'll develop on this programme.
The information on this page reflects the alumnus' status at the time of publication (March 2025).
