Hamza Mostafa, a 21-year-old software engineer, details his journey from Canada to San Francisco to secure a competitive internship at OpenAI and build a career in the tech industry.

Key Points

• Hamza Mostafa moved to San Francisco in October 2025 after completing multiple internships in Canada and San Mateo.
• He secured a three-month internship at OpenAI’s Mission Bay office, which ran from May to August 2025.
• The internship required rigorous technical interviews focused on coding speed and design processes.
• Mostafa learned to utilize AI agents to accelerate his coding workflow while working alongside experienced engineers.
• Despite facing visa challenges that delayed a return offer, he remains in San Francisco to pursue independent agentic AI projects.

Why it Matters

The narrative highlights San Francisco's enduring status as the primary global hub for talent seeking to work at the frontier of artificial intelligence. It underscores how networking and proximity to industry leaders remain critical factors for young professionals aiming to break into high-growth tech sectors.