James Yang, 22
James Yang: Redefining What It Means to Be a Builder in Tech
For James Yang, building was never just a hobby - it was an identity. Long before writing his first line of code, he spent countless hours assembling Lego creations “That turned into Minecraft, where I became especially obsessed with redstone and building systems that actually did something.” The real turning point in his journey came in high school, when an inspiring computer science teacher shifted programming away from rigid textbook exercises and taught JavaScript through hands-on full-stack projects. “That was the first time coding stopped feeling like a school subject and started feeling like a real creative tool,” reflects James. “More than anything, coding felt like the clearest expression of my love for building.”
When James arrived at Western University, he immediately sought a space where that passion for creation could thrive. He joined a campus builder club that taught students how to ship full-stack projects and introduced them to the hackathon ecosystem. Through the club's encouragement, James attended his first college hackathon, Hack Western. The thrill of shipping a product in a single weekend left him energized and gave him a sense of direction he had not found before. “Hackathons and the hacker community changed my life by expanding what I thought computer science could be,” recounts James. “Before that, I mostly saw the field as algorithms, math, and technical problem solving. Hackathons showed me the creative side of it, building products, understanding users, and shaping ideas people actually care about. They taught me that building is not just about making something work, but understanding why it should exist in the first place. That changed not just how I saw computer science, but what kind of builder I wanted to become.”
Driven by that newfound purpose, James became a fixture across the North American hackathon circuit, attending more than two dozen events - including DeltaHacks, CalHacks, LA Hacks, and UofTHacks. At NexHacks, he and his team created PrismLines - an end-to-end Polymarket trading assistant that helps users visualize risk, build strategies, and execute trades with confidence. Building AI agents with LangChain for the first time, their curiosity and focus paid off with a Best UI/UX win. For James, hackathons have become a second home - built on shared momentum and belonging. “[Hackathons] gave me a sense of direction I did not fully have before. I almost went into architecture because I knew I loved building, but I had not yet found the right outlet for that instinct. The hacker community helped me realize that software was where that part of me clicked.”
James is active in the community as a mentor and ecosystem multiplier. As an active builder within Western Founders Network (WFN) and Western AI, he guides younger students through the complete product development lifecycle. Recognizing that a great product needs a compelling narrative to make an impact, James focuses heavily on helping peers refine their pitches and communicate their vision clearly. "You can build an amazing product, but if you cannot explain why it matters, the project will never land the way it should," he notes. Whether judging campus showcases or organizing events like DataQuest, James ensures incoming hackers have the support and feedback they need to succeed. “I like building in a way that creates momentum around me, sparks conversations, and makes other people want to build too. I did not just find a community I loved. I became someone who helps other people see themselves in it.”
Beyond his technical pursuits, James is an avid volleyball player, competing in local leagues and carrying a passion for the sport that began in elementary school.
While James views software as a powerful tool for creation, he credits the hackathon ecosystem with revealing its true potential as a medium for human connection and empowerment. "More than anything, the hacker community gave me a mindset I carry everywhere now - you can just build things. You can just do things," James reflects. "It gives people technical skills, but even more importantly, it gives them confidence, agency, and a room full of people who make ambitious ideas feel buildable." Through dedicated mentorship and relentless technical drive, James continues to show that a true builder doesn't just craft software - they inspire others to create.
Quick Facts
James Yang, 22
James Yang: Redefining What It Means to Be a Builder in Tech
For James Yang, building was never just a hobby - it was an identity. Long before writing his first line of code, he spent countless hours assembling Lego creations “That turned into Minecraft, where I became especially obsessed with redstone and building systems that actually did something.” The real turning point in his journey came in high school, when an inspiring computer science teacher shifted programming away from rigid textbook exercises and taught JavaScript through hands-on full-stack projects. “That was the first time coding stopped feeling like a school subject and started feeling like a real creative tool,” reflects James. “More than anything, coding felt like the clearest expression of my love for building.”
When James arrived at Western University, he immediately sought a space where that passion for creation could thrive. He joined a campus builder club that taught students how to ship full-stack projects and introduced them to the hackathon ecosystem. Through the club's encouragement, James attended his first college hackathon, Hack Western. The thrill of shipping a product in a single weekend left him energized and gave him a sense of direction he had not found before. “Hackathons and the hacker community changed my life by expanding what I thought computer science could be,” recounts James. “Before that, I mostly saw the field as algorithms, math, and technical problem solving. Hackathons showed me the creative side of it, building products, understanding users, and shaping ideas people actually care about. They taught me that building is not just about making something work, but understanding why it should exist in the first place. That changed not just how I saw computer science, but what kind of builder I wanted to become.”
Driven by that newfound purpose, James became a fixture across the North American hackathon circuit, attending more than two dozen events - including DeltaHacks, CalHacks, LA Hacks, and UofTHacks. At NexHacks, he and his team created PrismLines - an end-to-end Polymarket trading assistant that helps users visualize risk, build strategies, and execute trades with confidence. Building AI agents with LangChain for the first time, their curiosity and focus paid off with a Best UI/UX win. For James, hackathons have become a second home - built on shared momentum and belonging. “[Hackathons] gave me a sense of direction I did not fully have before. I almost went into architecture because I knew I loved building, but I had not yet found the right outlet for that instinct. The hacker community helped me realize that software was where that part of me clicked.”
James is active in the community as a mentor and ecosystem multiplier. As an active builder within Western Founders Network (WFN) and Western AI, he guides younger students through the complete product development lifecycle. Recognizing that a great product needs a compelling narrative to make an impact, James focuses heavily on helping peers refine their pitches and communicate their vision clearly. "You can build an amazing product, but if you cannot explain why it matters, the project will never land the way it should," he notes. Whether judging campus showcases or organizing events like DataQuest, James ensures incoming hackers have the support and feedback they need to succeed. “I like building in a way that creates momentum around me, sparks conversations, and makes other people want to build too. I did not just find a community I loved. I became someone who helps other people see themselves in it.”
Beyond his technical pursuits, James is an avid volleyball player, competing in local leagues and carrying a passion for the sport that began in elementary school.
While James views software as a powerful tool for creation, he credits the hackathon ecosystem with revealing its true potential as a medium for human connection and empowerment. "More than anything, the hacker community gave me a mindset I carry everywhere now - you can just build things. You can just do things," James reflects. "It gives people technical skills, but even more importantly, it gives them confidence, agency, and a room full of people who make ambitious ideas feel buildable." Through dedicated mentorship and relentless technical drive, James continues to show that a true builder doesn't just craft software - they inspire others to create.
