Meet thomaskranitsas!
Copilot Trip Winner
About Thomas Kranitsas
Back in 2015, right after I completed my military duty in the Hellenic Air Force, I joined Topcoder. For the first 2 years I was a full-time competitor and reviewer. Then, I became a full-time, full-stack copilot, participated in the Community Advisory Board, and I am also a member of the Topcoder MVP program.
What is the most interesting project you copiloted at Topcoder and why?
There are so many to choose from, it’s impossible to pick just one!
What is your most memorable Topcoder challenge and why?
It can’t be anything other than the first challenge I won as a competitor. The requirement was to build an isometric game using Unity3D where the player could place buildings and power plants on a grid. At that time, I was using Unity3D a lot for fun, so I was very lucky that my first challenge was based on the same technology. I wasn’t quite sure how Topcoder worked at that point, but, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait for the next challenge for the same project to be launched, which by the way, I also won. That excitement motivated me to start learning new technologies so I could compete in more and more challenges.
Is Topcoder your full time job and if so, why does it work for you?
Topcoder has been my full time job for the past 4 years. I love the freedom that Topcoder provides, and the fact that I can work from literally anywhere. Not having to deal with the marketing side of the business, and being able to focus solely on the execution of a project is also a huge bonus for me.
What do you do when not working?
I workout, I play the guitar, and I like to travel.
Where do you work? Tell us about your space(s).
Usually from my office in Karditsa, Greece. As a copilot, I can simply grab my laptop and go anywhere to work, as long as I have good 4G reception.
If you could give your past self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Go full throttle!
What kind of music do you listen to while working on your solutions?
I usually don’t listen to any music when I work. Sometimes I put some deep house music on as a background music, with low volume.
What is the dream project you want to build, design, or solve for?
Anything that has to do with aerospace or avionics.
What’s the best tip or piece of advice you can share with other members at Topcoder?
Stay focused. Don’t let failures distract you from your goal.
What does Topcoder mean to you?
A completely different lifestyle.
What are you most excited about for this year’s TCO Finals?
Getting to meet up with the community members and the Topcoder team again.
Do you strive to be at TCO every year and if so, why does it matter to you?
Getting a ticket for the TCO is my number one goal every year! I get to see most of the people I work with, all in one place.
What was your secret to getting a ticket for the TCO finals more than once?
Focus, hard work, and time management.