Can Data Crack the Day Trading Code? A New Algo Promises an Edge

DALLAS, TX – December 29, 2025 – In the fast-paced, high-stakes arena of day trading, the search for a consistent edge is a perpetual quest. A new entrant, IKIGAI Academy, claims to have forged one by launching IKIGAI Algo™ 7.0, a trading methodology born from an unlikely partnership between a digital data expert and a veteran Wall Street floor trader. The program promises to demystify the chaotic world of zero-day-to-expiration (0DTE) options and futures scalping for busy professionals, offering a systematic path through a notoriously volatile market.

Founded by Qamar 'Q' Zaman, a technologist known for his work in digital marketing and SEO, and developed with his mentor Gary 'G', identified as a former New York Stock Exchange floor trader, the system aims to replace emotional guesswork with a data-driven framework. Their ambitious goal is to teach traders how to achieve their objectives in just 60 to 90 minutes a day, a bold claim in a field that often consumes its participants entirely.

The Architect and the Mentor

The story behind IKIGAI Algo™ begins not on a trading floor, but in a student-mentor relationship. Zaman, with a two-decade career in digital strategy and no prior trading experience, approached Gary 'G' to learn the markets. Faced with the complexity of traditional chart analysis, Zaman sought a more structured approach, leveraging his expertise in data analysis.

"If I can crack Google to rank a website on the first page—which I have done for over 1,000 successful projects—I can break down candles and price action using leading rules," Zaman stated in the initial announcement. This conviction led to the development of a system he calls "No Structure, No Trade." By testing over 200 different modalities, he aimed to build a quantifiable edge, removing the emotional volatility that plagues many traders. The result of this collaboration with Gary 'G' is the IKIGAI Algo™, a system that represents the fusion of old-school market intuition and modern data science.

Zaman's background as the founder of media brands KISS PR and Coffee With Q lends him a unique profile in the trading education space. His career has been built on decoding complex systems, whether it be search engine algorithms or, now, market price action. The academy asserts that Gary 'G's' decades of experience as a position and floor trader provide the foundational market wisdom upon which Zaman's data-driven rules are built.

Decoding the Ticker with Volume Analysis

The latest iteration, IKIGAI Algo™ 7.0, focuses on providing traders with enhanced volume analysis tools. The methodology purports to go beyond simple price movements to reveal the underlying dynamics of supply and demand. It is designed to help traders interpret the narrative behind each candlestick on a chart, a skill its founders argue is the key to consistent trading.

"Most traders look at candles and see red or green. My students look at the same candle and see a complete story," explained Gary 'G' in the press release. "They can see WHO showed up—was it climax volume or quiet accumulation? They can see WHO WON—did buyers absorb the selling or did sellers overpower the buyers? And they can see WHERE this happened—at a key level or in no-man's land. That's the difference between guessing and reading the market."

Crucially, IKIGAI Algo™ is not sold or licensed as a standalone software indicator. Instead, it is the centerpiece of a comprehensive educational course involving lectures, labs, and real-market application. This positions the company firmly in the trading education sector, rather than as a financial tool provider, a distinction with significant regulatory implications. The curriculum is designed to teach a specific methodology for trading popular but volatile instruments like SPY, SPX, and QQQ options, as well as ES and NQ futures.

The Perilous World of Zero-DTE and Scalping

While IKIGAI Academy's promise of a systematic edge is compelling, its focus on zero-DTE options and 2-5 minute scalping places its students in one of the most challenging segments of the financial markets. Zero-DTE options, which expire the same day they are traded, are known for their extreme volatility and rapid time decay. A position can turn from profitable to worthless in minutes, making them a double-edged sword that can generate rapid gains or catastrophic losses.

Financial regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) have repeatedly issued warnings about the complexities and substantial risks of options trading, especially for retail investors. Academic studies and industry data consistently show that a large majority of day traders—some reports suggest over 90%—fail to achieve consistent profitability over the long term. The strategy of scalping, which involves making numerous small trades throughout the day, introduces further challenges, including high transaction costs from commissions and bid-ask spreads, which can quickly erode small profits.

Success in this environment demands not only a robust strategy but also unwavering discipline and flawless execution, attributes that are difficult to master. The question for any educational program, including IKIGAI, is whether it can adequately prepare students for the psychological pressures and inherent statistical disadvantages of this high-risk trading style.

Navigating a Crowded Educational Market

IKIGAI Academy enters a highly competitive trading education landscape populated by a wide array of providers, from large proprietary firms with in-house training to countless individual trading 'gurus' on social media. Many promise to unlock the secrets to market success, but their credibility and results vary dramatically. The academy's unique selling proposition is its blend of a verified data expert's systematic approach with the stated experience of a Wall Street veteran, packaged specifically for professionals with limited time.

The company reports strong early interest, stating that after nine months of testing, its first two cohorts of 10 students each have graduated, with the next two batches already sold out. This suggests a demand for structured, time-efficient trading education. However, as a new entrant, the program has yet to accumulate a significant body of independent, third-party reviews on public forums where traders often vet such services. For prospective students, the claims of success currently rely on the company's own reporting. Ultimately, the program's value will be judged by its ability to create disciplined traders who can navigate and survive one of the market's most unforgiving arenas.