Leila Cheikhe

Leila Cheikhe AI Product Builder & Systems Thinker | America 250 Fellow AI Cohort 2026 (25 Selected) | Building AI for Africa’s Unserved Markets Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco (MA) 500 connections • 520 followers About I build AI for the markets that everyone else is too comfortable to notice. I grew up in Dakhla where the Sahara meets the Atlantic, where the infrastructure is thin and the bandwidth runs slow. That environment gave me something most builders never develop: the ability to see problems before they have names, and build before there is a roadmap. In 2026, I was selected as one of 25 participants for the America 250 Fellowship AI Cohort. A six-month program focused on ethical AI, practical AI solutions, and innovation leadership, supported by the U.S. Department of State and Dar America Casablanca, implemented by the AFCD Foundation. On the technical side, I am building through the Qwasar Silicon Valley / JobInTech engineering programme a Silicon Valley-grade curriculum where I work on real AI systems, fullstack applications, and deployed products across React, Next.js, NestJS, Node.js, Python, LangChain, and cloud infrastructure. I am also building Artisia an early-stage AI project helping Moroccan artisans turn Darija voice notes into multilingual product listings for global markets. The problem is real. The gap is enormous. I'm closing it. I also run Elite Yassmin Cooperative in Dakhla a natural aromatic and cosmetic products cooperative where I'm actively learning how digital tools and AI can create economic access for people who have no other path to global visibility. I think in systems. I learn by shipping. I am early and I am serious. Open to: AI engineering roles, global fellowships, research collaborations, remote opportunities, mentors, and co-builders working at the intersection of AI and real-world impact. leilacheikhe.com Total Experience: 4 years and 5 months Experience AI & Full-Stack Systems Engineer Qwasar Silicon Va