Tell us about yourself?
My name is Mostafa Hamed. I was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. I am the co-founder of Alex Web, one of a leading web design and development company in Egypt and co-founder of GroMenu a new startup for food delivery and ordering application.
I manage our Projects and development team. I have more than 15 years of experience in Information Technology including seven years of extensive experience in project management with a strong background in marketing, business development.
What do you think is the single biggest misconception people have when it comes to startups?
There are many misconceptions about startups but one of which is that some entrepreneurs with great ideas believe they need a lot of cash to launch or grow their company.
However, validating your new idea with simple methods and trying to start as simple as possible will lead to great success.
If you could go back in time to any moment from your journey, and give yourself one tip, what would it be?
There were many times when I was seeking perfection in my new product, and it took me a long time to launch. I was sometimes so late that I didn’t even launch my product.
So, if I could go back in time, I would tell myself to start now rather than waiting for the right time or a perfect product.
What makes you stand out as an entrepreneur?
The thing that makes me stand out most is that I am constantly working to improve the skills of my team. The key to success is having a highly skilled and experienced team.
What are some of the best working habits you’ve gained over the past couple of years?
The best habits I developed and continually work to improve upon are negotiation, courage, and building connections.
Give us a bit of an insight into the influences behind the company?
The main idea behind Alex Web is our dedication to support our clients and help them to succeed. To be a part of our clients’ success journey creates an everlasting relationship with our customers.
Where do you see your business in five years?
We are currently focusing on building our own SAAS systems. And in the next 5 years, we want to be able to lead the market with a smart software with affordable prices that can make people lives easier.
What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you in getting there?
For us it would be the very fast paced technological developments. We need to make sure that we have strong following with new trends and the ability to adapt with marketing changes.
Talk to us about your biggest success story so far?
The fact that we were able to build our own food ordering system, GroMenu, within the last year, and that our product is now being used by restaurants, I believe, will change our business path in the near future.
How do clients and customers find you? Are you much of a salesperson for yourself?
There is no doubt that sales and marketing are critical to a company’s success. However, a good product or service that you provide can have a significant impact on the growth of the business.
What one tip would you give to fellow startup founders?
Even if there is a lot of competition, there is always a new opportunity every day. Never give up and always follow your intuition.
And finally, what do you hope the future brings both you personally, and your business?
I am excited to continue improving our product, expanding our business, and competing in international markets.
