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Mahmoud Khodor
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In-depth conversations with top product leaders and entrepreneurs uncovering practical insights, strategies, and real-world experiences to help you build better products and businesses.

  1. 1월 25일

    From Laundry to $1M ARR in One Year – Jad Halaoui

    We turned a “boring” laundromat idea into a $1M ARR tech brand in under a year.In this episode, I sit down with Jad Halaoui, co-founder of Washmen, to break down how they validated the idea with a scrappy Facebook ad, hit $1M ARR in year one, and then built a vertically integrated laundry operation that now processes hundreds of thousands of garments per month.We go deep into:How Jad left a safe oil & gas career to bet on himself in DubaiThe smoke test that proved people wanted app-based laundry before they wrote a single line of codeWhy next-day delivery hurt quality and how they iterated their way to product-market fitThe decision to shift from asset-light to fully owning the supply chain (and why margins improved)Crazy ops details: RFIDs, four-corner QR codes, color-sorted orders, and 99.95% on-time itemsWhy every garment is a piece of a customer’s identity, not just a piece of clothingIf you’re building a consumer brand, obsessed with operations, or thinking about betting on yourself, this one is packed with stories and lessons.Concise Timeline / ChaptersYou can paste this directly into YouTube:0:00 – QR code “innovation” and hitting $1M ARR0:57 – How the idea for Washmen was born3:05 – Leaving oil & gas to bet on himself and move to Dubai5:04 – Validating Washmen with a Facebook ad and free underwear7:33 – Incubator, seed round, and launching the first app in 201513:52 – Early ops pain: next-day delivery, quality issues, and fixing the model16:20 – Testing wash & fold, building their own facility, and Series B19:02 – Scaling to hundreds of thousands of garments with RFIDs & cameras20:23 – Early growth from Facebook/Instagram ads and viral content24:40 – From advertising-led growth to word of mouth & brand love26:28 – Why Washmen won: timing, drive, and not having a safety net32:01 – People strategy, training, and moving from firefighting to offense34:26 – Clothes as identity: emotional attachment and The Finery40:25 – Respecting the craft: tiny details, four-corner QR codes, and ops pride42:26 – Where to find Jad and learn more about Washmen

    43분

  2. 1월 18일

    Are We Overhyping AI? - Kevin Kelly

    In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Kelly – founding executive editor of WIRED, legendary futurist, and author of The Inevitable, Excellent Advice for Living, and the new photo book Colors of Asia.We go way beyond AI hype and talk about why we’re probably overestimating AI in the next 5–10 years but massively underestimating it over the next 100, how emotional and empathetic AIs will become our companions, and why Kevin believes great artists won’t lose their jobs to AI.We also dive into why enthusiasm is worth 25 IQ points, why clear writing and communication beat raw intelligence for builders and designers, how to think with your whole body, Kevin’s painful writing process, and his marriage advice from 39+ years together.If you’re a product builder, designer, founder, or just trying to understand the future we’re stepping into, this is a conversation to sit with, not skim.Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.mahmoudkhodor.comKevin new book, colors of Asia https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Asia-Journey-KEVIN-KELLY/dp/B0FGJ18PG5#:~:text=What's%20it%20about?,artifacts%20from%20Turkey%20to%20Japan.00:00 – Intro & “AI bigger than electricity or fire?”01:21 – We overestimate AI now, underestimate 100 years from now03:00 – Many AIs vs one monolithic AI05:00 – Emotional AI & empathetic agents11:20 – Will AI replace human artists?14:00 – Jobs, coders & the 25% productivity boost19:00 – AI uncertainty: jobs, AGI & central vs edge compute23:40 – “Once in history” moment & AI surprises33:00 – Enthusiasm, intelligence & communication41:40 – Writing as clear thinking48:20 – Marriage advice & fears of divorce50:16 – Colors of Asia & disappearing cultures

    53분

  3. 1월 14일

    Why do brilliant products still fail with April Dunford

    In this episode, positioning legend April Dunford breaks down why “product-market fit” is a myth, how founders should think about positioning, and what separates products that grow from those that disappear.We talk about April’s early days turning a failing database product into a billion-dollar success, why most startups get positioning completely wrong, and how to make customers finally get what you do in 30 seconds.If you’re a founder, product manager, or marketer, this episode will completely change how you think about your product story, differentiation, and growth.Subscribe to my newsletterhttps://www.mahmoudkhodor.comConnect with April on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprildunford/Visit her website: https://www.aprildunford.com/Buy her book: https://www.amazon.ae/Ambient-Press-Obviously-Awesome-Positioning/dp/1999023005⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro | Who is April Dunford?03:00 – The database that failed – and then didn’t08:00 – How positioning saved the product15:00 – Why “Product-Market Fit” is a myth22:00 – Positioning vs Branding vs Messaging28:00 – The real sign you’ve found your market34:00 – How to create an Actionable Segmentation42:00 – When bad positioning kills good startups51:00 – Why positioning is a team sport1:05:00 – Building KChat and testing our own positioning1:12:00 – April’s new book update + final advice

    1시간 19분

  4. 2025. 12. 10.

    Shazam-for-Cars To Dealer AI: The Pivot - Andrew Kabrit

    What happens when your AI chatbot accidentally tries to buy a car for $0?In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Kabrit, co-founder of Seez.co , the startup once known as the “Shazam for Cars.”From scraping car data to building an AI platform used by major dealerships across Europe and the Middle East, Andrew shares how a single pivot turned Seez from a consumer app into a thriving B2B automotive SaaS company.Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.mahmoudkhodor.comAndrew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-kabritSeez's website https://seez.coWe dive deep into:🚗 How Seez built early AI models before ChatGPT existed💡 The “bot that bought a car for zero”, and what it taught the team📈 Pivoting from millions of users to a few key enterprise clients🏠 Building a startup from a bare Dubai penthouse with no AC or furniture🤖 Creating Caesar, the AI sales assistant transforming car dealerships💥 The mindset that helped Seez get acquired and scale globallyIf you’re into startup stories, AI, product pivots, or building in the Middle East, this one’s for you.🕒 Chapters / Timeline00:00 – Intro: From Shazam for Cars to Dealer AI01:00 – The $0 car offer: When AI went rogue03:00 – Building Seez in a Dubai penthouse with no AC05:00 – Early days of AI: scraping data & training image models08:00 – Launching the “Shazam for Cars” app11:00 – The B2C challenge: millions of users, no revenue13:00 – The pandemic pivot: from app to dealership SaaS16:00 – Selling cars online before Tesla made it cool20:00 – Understanding dealer pain points24:00 – Why scrappiness beats perfection26:00 – Finding your first B2B customers30:00 – How to sell to enterprise clients33:00 – The power of GTEX and first major deals37:00 – Convincing the team and investors to pivot40:00 – Building the Caesar AI assistant45:00 – Differentiating in the AI chatbot market49:00 – Domain expertise and deep dealership integrations53:00 – What’s next after Seez’s acquisition by Pinewood56:00 – Andrew’s biggest lessons for founders58:00 – Closing thoughts and where to find Andrew

    58분

  5. 2025. 11. 19.

    From Idea to Live App in One Canvas — David Kossnick

    Can AI truly become your third teammate in design?In this episode, David Kossnick, Head of AI Products at Figma, joins Mahmoud Khodor to explore how Figma Make is transforming the way product managers, designers, and engineers co-create.You’ll learn how Figma is integrating AI beyond the gimmick, from “prompt-to-app” workflows to multiplayer prototyping where humans and AI build side by side. David also shares how AI is lowering the floor and raising the ceiling of what’s possible in product design — and why the future may belong to one-person, billion-dollar builders.If you’re a product manager, designer, or founder curious about AI tools, Figma AI, design collaboration, or the future of creativity, this episode is a must-watch.Newsletter: https://www.mahmoudkhodor.comDavid's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidkossnick/Figma website https://www.figma.com/🧠 What You’ll Learn- How AI is becoming a true design collaborator- The playbook to avoid the “AI novelty trap”- How Figma Make changes prototyping forever- Why design will matter more than ever in the AI era- What the “one-person billion-dollar startup” future looks like⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Design as the new differentiator00:21 – Guest intro: David Gossnick, Head of AI at Figma00:48 – What “AI at Figma” really means03:17 – How Figma decides which AI features to build06:36 – Balancing speed and responsibility in AI08:44 – Biggest challenges of building AI at scale11:05 – AI lowering the floor & raising the ceiling13:20 – Will AI replace designers?15:02 – The rise of one-person billion-dollar builders20:45 – Avoiding the AI novelty trap30:01 – How Figma keeps innovating32:04 – The future of design with AI

    35분

  6. 2025. 11. 02.

    Why do brilliant products still fail with April Dunford

    In this episode, positioning legend April Dunford breaks down why “product-market fit” is a myth, how founders should think about positioning, and what separates products that grow from those that disappear.We talk about April’s early days turning a failing database product into a billion-dollar success, why most startups get positioning completely wrong, and how to make customers finally get what you do in 30 seconds.If you’re a founder, product manager, or marketer, this episode will completely change how you think about your product story, differentiation, and growth.Subscribe to my newsletterhttps://www.mahmoudkhodor.comConnect with April on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprildunford/Visit her website: https://www.aprildunford.com/Buy her book: https://www.amazon.ae/Ambient-Press-Obviously-Awesome-Positioning/dp/1999023005⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro | Who is April Dunford?03:00 – The database that failed – and then didn’t08:00 – How positioning saved the product15:00 – Why “Product-Market Fit” is a myth22:00 – Positioning vs Branding vs Messaging28:00 – The real sign you’ve found your market34:00 – How to create an Actionable Segmentation42:00 – When bad positioning kills good startups51:00 – Why positioning is a team sport1:05:00 – Building KChat and testing our own positioning1:12:00 – April’s new book update + final advice

    1시간 19분

  7. 2025. 10. 21.

    How Lovin Dubai Became a $15 M Media Powerhouse - Richard Fitzgerald

    Unlock the story behind one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing modern media companies as Richard Fitzgerald, Founder & CEO of Loving Dubai (Augustus Media), shares how he built a multi-city network from scratch in 2015. In this in-depth conversation, we cover:🎙️ Most Surprising Thing in Dubai: Richard’s biggest takeaway after 13 years in the city🚀 Genesis of Loving Dubai & Augustus Media: From a side project to a $15 M+ business🔥 Growth Hacking & Publishing Strategy: Listicles, native content, real-time feeds🔒 Licensing & Regulation: Navigating UAE media rules and securing IP🔄 Acquisition of Seven Days Assets: Boosting credibility, SEO & audience reach🌍 Regional Expansion: Launching 22 city pages and 13 verticals under Smashy🤝 Localization & Hosts: Building relatable on-air talent across MENA💡 Personal Branding Advice: Why “beyond expertise” is key for lasting influenceSubscribe to newsletter:https://www.mahmoudkhodor.comAugustus Media Links:Lovin Dubai:https://lovin.co/dubai/en/https://www.instagram.com/lovindubai/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/@UCwmK7lGImUYz4pb_z8XJytQ Smashi Business:https://smashi.tv/en/businesshttps://www.instagram.com/smashibusiness/https://www.youtube.com/@Smashi-BusinessRichard Fitzgerald:https://www.linkedin.com/in/fitzyrichard/https://www.instagram.com/fitzyrichard/?hl=en▶️ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/YourChannel👍 Like this video if you learned something new about media entrepreneurship💬 Comment below with your biggest takeaway or question for Richard🔗 Connect with Richard Fitzgerald:Instagram: @richardfLoving Dubai: https://lovindubai.comSmashy Business: https://smashy.com#MediaEntrepreneurship #LovingDubai #GrowthHacking #DubaiStartups #PodcastInsights #AugustusMedia📑 Video Chapters00:00 Introduction & Content Discovery00:06 Discovery vs. Recommendations Debate02:49 Podcast Setup & Question Preview03:33 “Most Surprising Thing I Found in Dubai”05:14 How Loving Dubai Got Its Start07:00 Growth Hacking with Listicles & BuzzFeed Tactics11:02 Real-Time Publishing & “Protect the Feed”13:43 Day One: Early Challenges & Cease-and-Desist15:09 Full-Time Founder: Fundraising & First Hires18:07 Navigating UAE Regulation & Media Licensing20:01 Acquisition of Seven Days Assets23:00 Scrappy Growth Tactics & Content Repurposing26:00 Content Curation Lens: Local vs. Western Stories29:16 Localization & Host Strategy for MENA Audiences32:06 Launching Smashy Business & Regional Expansion35:03 Scaling 22 Cities & 13 Verticals: Metrics & Milestones37:26 Personal Branding Beyond Subject-Matter Expertise40:00 AI, the Future of Media & Wrap-Up(will be deleted later: Quote: we protect the feed)

    55분

  8. 2025. 10. 01.

    The Pivot That Saved Quiqup – Bassel El Koussa

    From a London living room startup to powering some of the biggest e-commerce brands in the Middle East, this is the incredible journey of Basel Kusa, co-founder & CEO of Quiqup (QuickUp).Subscribe my newsletter: https://www.mahmoudkhodor.comBassel Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bassel-el-koussa-37576652/Quiqup Website: https://www.quiqup.com/In this episode, Bassel shares:- How he and his co-founders launched a same-day delivery app before “quick commerce” was a thing.- The wild story of delivering an entire garden to a customer in London.- Surviving with only six weeks of cash runway for four years straight.- The toughest day of his life: standing in front of 105 employees to announce a pivot.- Why he moved the company to Dubai, and how QuickUp became a B2B e-commerce powerhouse serving brands like Sephora, Boots, and H&M.- The lessons he learned about resilience, leadership, and building customer-obsessed culture.This is a raw and practical look into startup life, the highs, the pivots, the near-death moments, and what it takes to keep going when everything says you should stop.👉 If you’re a founder, operator, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights you won’t find in textbooks.00:00 – Intro & Basel’s startup journey 01:08 – Building Quiqup in London: the early days 06:14 – The wild story: delivering an entire garden 09:49 – Finding product–market fit & early growth 14:22 – Pivot day: telling 105 employees it’s over 15:35 – Moving to Dubai & landing Sephora, Boots, H&M 23:50 – Customer obsession & building company culture 28:09 – How Quiqup tech powers e-commerce in MENA 33:06 – Surviving with only six weeks of cash for years 37:12 – Leadership lessons, resilience & the future of logistics 42:28 – Advice for founders in the Middle East

    42분
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In-depth conversations with top product leaders and entrepreneurs uncovering practical insights, strategies, and real-world experiences to help you build better products and businesses.

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  • 제작진
    Mahmoud Khodor
  • 방송 연도
    2025년 - 2026년
  • 에피소드
    48
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    © Mahmoud Khodor
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    Builders