From Project Expo to CTO: Alumnus Christopher Tapia Kicked His Career Into High Gear
When alumnus Christopher Tapia ’25 was a first-generation informatics student at UC Irvine Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS), he joined a capstone project as part of ICS Project Expo, a rite of passage for many ICS students. He could not have imagined it would reignite his passion for computer programming, align with his martial arts training and quickly result in a new career as a co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) of startup RollTrackApp.
Growing up in Long Beach, California, Tapia enjoyed tinkering with computer parts from swap meets. “I’ve always really liked working with computers,” Tapia recalls. “I kind of became the IT guy in my family. If anyone had a technical problem, they would contact me. My mom mentioned, ‘Why don’t you just do computer science?’ I had never really thought about doing that. But thinking about getting paid to do something I already do for my family would be kind of nice.”
That suggestion led him to take dual-enrollment classes at a community college during his junior and senior years of high school. He then enrolled at UC Irvine because he felt the well-established, dedicated computer science department was a signal that the university took the field seriously.
Finding a Fit with Informatics
Starting as a computer science student posed significant challenges for Tapia. Moving from semesters to quarters was fast paced and demanding. He also worked on campus and found theory-focused coursework uncomfortable.
That changed when he found informatics. “Informatics felt like such a breath of fresh air,” Tapia says. “It incorporated the humanist side of design and programming. I really liked combining the programming aspects with user-centered experience and project management.” He credits informatics with helping him find not only academic success, but a sense of belonging on campus. “The most memorable parts of my college career were the times I spent in informatics and taking those courses.”
Faculty Who Made a Difference
Several ICS faculty members left a lasting impression on Tapia.
Roderic Crooks, associate professor of informatics, stood out for teaching students to examine society through the lens of technology. “Viewing society through the lens of computers and how computers affect society was something I was passionate about, but I didn’t know I was passionate about it,” Tapia says. “It was really invigorating to know we have faculty who can connect those dots.”
Emily Navarro, continuing lecturer of informatics, taught in a style that consistently checked for student understanding. Tapia found it invaluable. “Professor Navarro really centered learning in the classroom. She would have mini-quizzes during lectures, engage the class, and make sure everyone was keeping up. I’m very grateful for that space to really learn.”
Tapia credits Hadar Ziv, associate professor of teaching in informatics, with the course that would change his career path with Project Expo.
Project Expo: Capstone to Career Changing
“The expo kind of became my career,” says Tapia. Project Expo paired Tapia with Grace Choi, an educator, business owner and passionate jiu-jitsu practitioner with a vision for an app called RollTrackApp.
“What I loved about the ICS Project Expo is the real-world experience that the students get to utilize with very few negative consequences in a very controlled area,” says Choi. “I think that is the most valuable part of this program. I think every school should have this program because it provides a safe space in which the students can learn. It’s an amazing program.”
“I think every school should have this program because it provides a safe space in which the students can learn. It’s an amazing program.”
Working with Choi reignited Tapia’s love for programming. “I was so grateful that Grace was our project partner,” says Tapia. “She comes from an education background and really wanted to center learning for our group: how to make mistakes, how to present yourself to stakeholders. One of the lessons ingrained in me was: You may not have the skills to complete what a stakeholder wants, but you can always offer solutions. Instead of saying ‘I can’t,’ you say, ‘but I can do this.’ That transforms the entire conversation.”
Working with frameworks he’d never used before and applying everything he’d learned, Tapia dove into the project. “Part of me was like, yes, this is for my grade, but I was also passionate about seeing this thing come to life.”
Saying Yes to an Unexpected Opportunity
Choi recognized Tapia’s passion for the project and appreciated his growth mindset. “Chris treated the experience beyond a grade, approaching it with the mindset of a startup founder,” she says.
After Project Expo concluded, Choi reached out and asked Tapia to hop on a call. He expected a simple thank you. “She came in and said, ‘I want you to be my co-founder. I’ve seen how passionate you are about this,'” recalls Tapia.
But he didn’t say yes immediately. Tapia took time to ask himself honestly whether he could commit fully, whether he believed in himself enough to take on the CTO role.
“It did seem intimidating,” says Tapia. “When something technical goes wrong, you’re the person. But reflecting on how much I cared about the project and how much Grace believed in me, I thought: I just have to take this opportunity. Even if it doesn’t work out, I can say I tried something ambitious at this age. How many people can say that?”
Choi adds, “Chris is a great example of a bright future. I think he’s going to be phenomenal.”
Building RollTrackApp
RollTrackApp is a software as a service (SaaS) platform built for gym owners, specifically in the martial arts. It’s designed to handle attendance tracking, payment management, and gamification features aimed at increasing retention and reducing churn.
“We describe RollTrackApp as taking the pulse of your gym,” Tapia explains. “It gives gym owners meaningful analytics so they can determine the right steps to successfully grow their businesses.”
A core philosophy behind the platform is simplicity and fairness. Through research, Tapia and Choi identified that most existing platforms were not built by people who truly understood martial arts as a business, often resulting in clunky, overly complex user experiences. Many of those platforms also layered excessive transaction fees on top of gym owners already operating on thin margins.
“A lot of these gym owners are passionate about their martial art. They want to teach, but they’re not always business owners at heart,” Tapia says. “We don’t want to keep cutting into their profits. We want martial arts to be successful because we genuinely believe things like jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai are meaningful. They build discipline, community, and character.”
RollTrackApp was designed so that any gym owner, regardless of their technological comfort level, could learn and operate the platform within minutes. “That’s something I learned in informatics: user experience is meaningful,” says Tapia. “You can have the same functionality as a competitor, but if your experience is much better, people will flock to it.”
The platform officially launched in February and is currently in a beta testing phase, with gyms already in talks to transition to the platform.
Martial Arts as a Mutual Connection
Both Tapia and Choi also aligned with their mutual interests in martial arts. Tapia was introduced to Muay Thai by enrolling in a class at UC Irvine Campus Recreation, initially as a means of self-defense. He found it complemented his studies and grew into a genuine love for the sport and its Thai cultural heritage.
“Muay Thai really trains you to stay calm and take action, even in chaotic situations,” he says. “And seeing yourself progress really helps with self-esteem and believing in yourself.”
Choi has trained in jiu-jitsu for years and is planning to launch a nonprofit to teach self-defense to women. She appreciated Tapia’s genuine interest in the mission of the app, which is deeply connected to martial arts philosophy and practice.
A Message to Future Anteaters
Tapia encourages UC Irvine students to find their own paths and learn from his story of navigating ICS, exploring to find a good fit, and being open to opportunities after graduation.
“There’s always going to be hiccups at any university,” says Tapia. “But I really enjoyed my time at UC Irvine. Informatics gave me something I didn’t know I was looking for. Project Expo gave me a career. And Grace gave me a chance.”
Tapia adds, “If I think of every opportunity as a learning opportunity, I can absorb and grow so much. I have room to make mistakes. And so does everyone else.”
You are invited to RSVP for ICS Project Expo on June 4, 2026, at the UC Irvine Student Center, where 100 student projects will be showcased.
– Tonya Becerra