About me

It took me more than a decade to find the right career path

Hi, I'm David. A civil engineer, turned self-taught developer and currently pursuing trading, while building trading software.

I picked civil engineering as a career choice in high school because I was good at math, science and physics. I got my degree in 4 years, worked in this field for about 5 years across 2 countries and came to the realization that I wasn't happy in this field.

I decided to try my luck in entrepreneurship, while later this led me into learning how to code and after a long grind, I finally secured my first developer job. I stayed in this field for about 4 years as I had bigger ambitions.

I wanted to trade. I made my first trade back at the end of 2020 and it has been a real challenge. I'm still not consistently profitable.

Realizing my mistakes over the years, I decided to pause my trading until I have an actual edge in the market. To find this edge, I decided I'd build myself the best backtesting tool to help me find trading strategies efficiently.

David Nowak
How I got here

The long version

  1. 2007

    Started university

    I chose civil engineering. Here I had my first taste of programming with a compulsory Matlab course in my first year. Hated it, and ironically I didn't ever want to learn how to program.

  2. The first job

    Design engineer at a precast concrete plant in Canada. Lots to learn and a lot of stress. From designing reinforcing steel inside concrete members to the connections that connect pieces together, to ensuring the structure withstands earthquake, wind, snow and live loads.

  3. New Zealand

    Same industry, wider job and responsibilities. I also became a spreadsheet guy, and making long Excel IF statements got annoying. That led me to macros, then VBA, and the first programming I ever actually enjoyed.

  4. The fork

    I had to decide... push on to senior engineer or get out. I left and went all in on entrepreneurship.

  5. Failing at business ideas

    I had many ideas, from a backpack with a built-in rain jacket, to being a consultant, to designing an app to maintain friendships. But I couldn't build any apps as I couldn't program. So I started freeCodeCamp.

  6. 2020

    Focused on coding and got a job

    Focusing on coding gave me a new target and the option to return to entrepreneurship later. I built up my portfolio, struggled, but eventually got hired as a frontend developer.

  7. Trading as a side passion

    Once I got up to speed in my job, I started trading on the side. I got sucked in and went deeper and deeper. It was a challenge that I wanted to conquer.

  8. Went all in on trading and returning to entrepreneurship

    I quit being a developer and gave trading everything I had. I made many mistakes and it cost me years of progress. So I pivoted to use my background and expertise in coding to start building my own backtesting software. Exactly what I should have done when I started out.

Beyond the CV

A few true things

David Nowak riding his motocross bike along a forest trail

My dream motocross bike

As a teenager I cut a picture of a motocross bike out of a magazine and put it on my shelf. Worked a part-time job, saved, got some help from my parents, and eventually bought it. Riding it the first time was surreal.

The unconquered mountain

We were going for the summit and got above 4,200m before the weather turned. Visibility went completely, so we turned around. Still the best thing I have done on foot.

David Nowak beside a trail sign reading 4,260m, in heavy fog
David Nowak paddleboarding on a mountain lake

Away from the screen

Hiking, the beach, swimming, cycling, and tennis. Right now I am on a screen far more than any of that, which is a trade I made on purpose and will not make forever.

What I've figured out

Things I keep coming back to

Cool life quotes

  • Don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answer to.
  • Nobody cares as much as you think, so stop sweating over what other people's opinions may be.
  • The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is today.
  • Never judge someone by their words. Judge them by their actions.
  • It's better to have no friends than sh*tty friends.

What I'd tell myself at 19

  • People will use you for their own benefit. Cut these people out when they don't extend friendship.
  • Building a network matters as much as the grades, and university is the best place to do it.
  • Push out of your comfort zone so you don't end up with a weakness that holds you back later.
  • Take care of yourself. Once something is injured it is never quite the same again.
Resources & toolsThe books, warnings and tools I'd pass onTake a look →
Say helloTell me what brought you herehello[at]davidpnowak.com

Nothing on this site is financial advice. I'm documenting my own journey, including the parts that went badly. Trading carries real risk and you can lose money. Anything I write about building a business is my experience, not a guarantee of yours. Do your own research and make your own decisions.