Queens Tech Corner: Shahed Islam of SJ Innovation
Can you tell us a little about your company and how you got your start?
I graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in Computer Science, while my wife—and our Chief Operating Officer—Shahera earned her Computer Science degree from Manchester, UK, before moving to New York. We began freelancing from our bedroom in Jackson Heights, building websites and completing small projects, which grew into SJ Innovation. Over the past 20 years, Shahera has led our HR, finance, and operations, shaping a strong, cross-cultural team. Today, we’re a 150-plus-person company with offices in New York, India, and Bangladesh, serving clients from Fortune 500 companies like Johnson & Johnson and Jensen Pharma to local small businesses. Our main office is in Queens Village, and we remain deeply connected to the Queens community.
What connection do you and your team have to Queens?
We started our company in our bedroom in Jackson Heights. For 20 years, SJ Innovation has been based in Queens. Our office is in Queens Village, and we ran things from our basement for many years.
One of our first clients was Butala Emporium in Jackson Heights. We built their website, and they’re still with us today. We’ve done hundreds of websites and tech projects for Queens businesses. When I walk around the neighborhood — shopping, eating, or just out with family — I often run into people we’ve worked with. That’s what makes this community so special to us.
What’s your latest project and why are you excited about it?
We’re currently focused on CollabAI.software, an open-source AI workspace that helps small businesses automate tasks using custom AI agents. These agents can handle intake forms, follow-ups, emails, and reporting — no coding needed.
One project we’re proud of is QueensChamberAI.org, built in partnership with the Queens Chamber. It helps local businesses access practical AI tools. We’re also working with Quontic Bank and Dynamic Tax, both based in Queens, to bring AI automation into banking and accounting. Our goal is to make AI more accessible for small businesses.
It’s Queens Tech Corner time! The Queens Tech Corner is a monthly profile where we shine a spotlight on tech entrepreneurs doing exciting things right here in Queens. This month’s featured tech entrepreneur is Shahed Islam, Co-Founder & CEO of SJ Innovation, an ISO‑certified, Inc. 5000–recognized custom software development and IT services firm, offering AI‑first web and mobile solutions—including cloud, testing, CMS, e‑commerce, and app development—across multiple global offices. To learn more, go to https://sjinnovation.com/.
