Shahmir Khan

Research & Product - Exploring WP, AI & Automation

About

Updated October 2025 by Shahmir Khan

I'm a founder and product engineer who's spent the last few years turning ideas into systems that actually work. Currently, I'm exploring the intersection of AI and automation with Reachwise AI, and tackling Pakistan's informal student housing market through Staezy — a problem I researched through the country's first comprehensive market study.

Before this, I founded Pixelabs, where my team and I delivered 75+ software projects and built 40+ WordPress plugins in our first year alone, generating over $60K in revenue. I've also led product teams at 5 Stars Real Estate in the UAE (where we launched Dalile.com, syndicating 250+ agencies) and served as Head of Product & Delivery at Triox in the US — shipping products that reached thousands of users and drove $5M+ in client revenue.

What drives me: I don't just write code or manage teams — I connect the dots between what users need, what's technically possible, and what makes business sense. Whether it's implementing CI/CD pipelines, directing UI/UX initiatives, or conducting market research, I'm focused on building things that scale and matter.

I've failed, learned, and built again — from a poultry tech startup that didn't make it (but got us into the President House) to products that are thriving today. Each experience taught me something about building better.

Currently exploring: AI-driven automation, WordPress ecosystem innovations, and how technology can solve local market inefficiencies in emerging economies.

Research

Papers by Shahmir Khan
Pakistan's Student Housing Market: A Comprehensive Market Analysis and Feasibility Study (2025-2035)
Published 2025
This research presents the first comprehensive analysis of Pakistan's student housing market, addressing a critical gap in understanding the housing needs of nearly 4 million higher education students. The study examines market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and proposes solutions for the ~90% informal sector.
Comprehensive Methodology for Pakistan's Student Housing Market Analysis
Published 2025
Pakistan's student housing market serves nearly 4 million higher education students, yet zero purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) exists. This methodology paper outlines the framework used to conduct the first comprehensive survey and analysis of this informal market.
The Evolving WordPress Development Ecosystem - Industry Whitepaper
Published 2025
WordPress commands 43.4% of all websites globally within a $596 billion economy. This industry whitepaper explores the evolving WordPress development ecosystem, examining current trends, best practices, and the future of WordPress development in an increasingly complex technological landscape.
The Global WordPress Ecosystem in 2025: A Comprehensive Stakeholder and Market Analysis
Published 2025
WordPress has solidified its position as the foundational engine of the modern web, powering an unprecedented portion of the internet. This comprehensive analysis examines the global WordPress ecosystem, stakeholder dynamics, market forces, and future trajectories of the platform.
Researching Annual WordPress Users: A Comprehensive Stakeholder Analysis Framework
Published 2025
WordPress has emerged as the dominant content management system (CMS), powering 43.4% of all websites globally. This framework provides a systematic approach to understanding and analyzing WordPress user behaviors, needs, and ecosystem dynamics.

Companies

Updated October 2025
Staezy CURRENT
Launching staezy.pk, connecting students to reliable accommodations. Conducted the first survey ever of Pakistan's student housing market, and proposed legal framework for the ~90% informal sector. Tackling a real market inefficiency through research-backed solutions. staezy.pk
Reachwise AI
Built reachwise.io to explore AI-driven automation for LinkedIn outreach. Strategically sunset the product due to lack of founder-market fit. Sometimes the best decision is knowing when to move on. reachwise.io
Pixelabs
Established and led this technology startup delivering innovative web and software solutions. Delivered 75+ software projects and built 40+ WordPress plugins in the first year, generating over $60K in revenue. Built scalable, responsive web applications using Next.js, WordPress, and modern JavaScript frameworks. pixelabs.io
HatchIt
Built sustainable & automated products for poultry farming in Pakistan through the Durshal accelerator. In 6 months, we built a completely automated egg incubator with 2000 eggs capacity at just $357 (completely locally sourced), while similar solutions from China cost up to $1785. Though the startup eventually failed, we tackled a real problem for our people and earned an invite to the President House — networking with ~400 top people from Pakistan's tech industry, including lunch with the President & Cabinet.

Professional Experience

Work history and key achievements
5 Stars Real Estate (Dubai, UAE - Remote)
Head of Product (December 2023 - February 2025)
Managed a distributed team to create and launch 5Stars' premier product, Dalile.com, aligning project milestones with client vision and maintaining high standards in development quality.
Project Lead Developer (May 2023 - December 2023)
Led the product development efforts of the MVP and initial expansion, including syndication of 250+ agencies, CI/CD pipelines implementation, and successful MVP launch.
Triox.io (Boulder, Colorado - Remote)
Head of Product & Delivery (January 2023 - February 2025)
Directed the technological vision and strategy for Triox.io, aligning development efforts with business objectives. Oversaw design, development, and deployment of custom WordPress websites and applications. Recruited and led high-performing teams of developers, designers, and project managers. Implemented CI/CD pipelines and DevOps best practices to streamline development processes. Directed UI/UX initiatives using Figma. Delivered tailored solutions that drove significant client revenue.
Auction Flippers, LLC (Texas, USA - Remote)
Senior Web Developer (December 2022 - March 2023)
Delivered custom WordPress solutions including tailored plugins and features for auction management, improving operational efficiency. Enhanced user experience through improved website interactivity and design aligned with brand vision.
SJP Legnocrats (SMC-Pvt.) Ltd. (Abbottabad, Pakistan)
Full Stack Developer (May 2020 - November 2022)
Contributed to Pakistan's first Biometric E-Voting System. Led API integrations, core feature development, and mentored new team members. Built client portals and kiosk-based systems using Python, PHP, JavaScript, and WordPress.
Web Development Intern (February 2020 - May 2020)
Started my professional journey learning full-stack development and contributing to real-world projects.

Technical Skills

Programming languages and technologies

Advanced: JavaScript, PHP, Node.js, TypeScript

Intermediate: Python, React, Next.js, Data Analytics, Reinforcement Learning

Learning: Computer Vision, AI

I focus on building stuff that actually works and doesn't break when someone looks at it wrong. Experience spans from backend systems (the fun part) to full-stack applications (the necessary part), with particular expertise in WordPress ecosystem and API development (the profitable part).

Interval Story

The hotel project that started it all

At 16, I was broke in Swat with no plan. My friend and I convinced a hotel owner to pay us upfront for a guest management system we hadn't built yet. I spent three days straight coding a custom OCR that could read Pakistani ID cards - something no existing hotel software could do. Check-in time went from 15 minutes to under 1 minute. The best part? I made the interface so simple that literally anyone could use it, because I knew the hotel staff weren't going to read a manual.

That project taught me that users don't care about your clever code - they just want their problems solved. I've been obsessively building solutions ever since, usually at 3 AM with too much coffee.

Resources

Templates, checklists, and SOPs for project management

Over the years, I've developed frameworks and processes that help teams ship better products faster. Here are some resources you can use:

📋

Project Kickoff Checklist

Complete checklist for starting new projects with clients - from contracts to technical setup

🗓️

Sprint Planning Checklist

Step-by-step guide for effective sprint planning, from backlog prep to task assignment

⏱️

WordPress Task Estimation SOP

Detailed time estimates for WordPress tasks categorized by complexity

🔌

Plugin Development SOP

Standard operating procedures for WordPress plugin development workflow

🌐

Site Development SOP

Complete workflow for WordPress site development with Elementor and Figma

Blog

WordPress Research & Industry Insights

Exploring the WordPress ecosystem, market dynamics, and the future of web development through research-backed insights.

WordPress Statistics

WordPress Market Dominance: Powering 43.4% of All Websites in 2025

Discover how WordPress has become the dominant CMS platform, powering over 541 million websites globally and commanding ...

Jan 15, 20255 min read
WordPress Economy

The $600 Billion WordPress Economy: How Open Source Powers Global Commerce

Explore the massive economic impact of WordPress, valued at $596.7 billion in 2020 and projected to exceed $636 billion,...

Jan 14, 20256 min read
WordPress Community

Understanding the 7 WordPress Stakeholder Groups: A Complete Framework

Learn about the seven distinct stakeholder categories in the WordPress ecosystem, from billions of end users to hundreds...

Jan 13, 20257 min read

Get in touch

Email: shahmirkhanutmanzai@gmail.com

Phone: +92 (310) 505-4025

Location: Abbottabad, Pakistan