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Since 2012

About

Hani W. Naguib is an avid Evidence-Based Entrepreneurship advocate, trainer and author of the insightful book titled "Mindset To Startup." With an MBA from the prestigious SDA Bocconi School of Management and a career spanning over a decade, Hani has collaborated significantly with influential organizations like IFC, the Global Entrepreneurship Network, EIT Climate-KIC, and Plug'n'Play on innovation projects and training startups.

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Recognized as the African Ecosystem Hero of the Year in 2023 at the Global Startup Awards, Hani's commitment to nurturing startups shines through his contribution of over 10,000 mentoring hours, emphasizing his passion for fostering entrepreneurial talent worldwide. 

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His dedication extends beyond mentoring emerging entrepreneurs, having served as a lecturer on Evidence-Based Entrepreneurship at ESLSCA Business School, as a frequent guest speaker at The American University in Cairo, and as a contributor to the EU MC2 Project think tank. Hani also shares his insights as a keynote speaker at events like TEDx, Lean Startup Night, Startup Grind, and GEN Week.

"Evidence-Based Entrepreneurship is the art of asking better questions and the science of finding tangible answers."

Hani W. Naguib

GSA AFRICAN ECOSYSTEM HERO OF THE YEAR 2023

GSA African Ecosystem Hero of the Year Award recognizes an individual with a remarkable commitment to entrepreneurship, who actively shapes the entrepreneurial landscape through supportive and innovative initiatives. Known for their impactful contributions in nurturing startup growth and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, the Ecosystem Hero of The Year leads a specific organization or activity with exceptional dedication. Their work, performed within their home country, stands out for fostering entrepreneurship and nurturing startup growth. 

Global Startup Awards Africa Certificate of Achoevement
Image by JJ Ying

Is Entrepreneurship for Everyone?

In his TEDx talk at Cairo University, Hani Naguib explores whether entrepreneurship is suitable for everyone, emphasizing that success hinges on learning from mistakes, adapting to market realities, and maintaining an updated perception. He illustrates this with examples of two entrepreneurs: one whose rigid opinion hindered progress, and another who thrived by aligning technology with customer value. Naguib concludes that while not everyone will be the next Elon Musk, focusing on one's resources and constantly asking "what if?" can lead to entrepreneurial success, provided opinions do not obstruct perceptions.

JOURNEY REFLECTIONS WITH AHMED NAGUIB

In this wonderful conversation with Ahmed Naguib, Hani W. Naguib delves into the transformative experiences and lessons learned throughout his journey. From overcoming challenges to mentoring aspiring founders, this reflection captures the essence of growth, resilience, and the continuous pursuit of innovation in the startup world. Join Hani as he shares insights and stories that have shaped his path and fueled his passion for nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Valentina Primo

Founder

Startups Without Borders

"Hani's mentorship was a fundamental pillar to build Startups Without Borders, from idea to business. He not only guided me through the process of building a business model, but also gave me invaluable support and wisdom every time I would doubt myself, get paralyzed by fear of failure, or hesitate about the course of action to take. He was incredibly patient as I developed (and am still developing) a resilient entrepreneurial mindset. I always tell him he has been a guardian angel, since he would be my go-to reference point whenever I would run into the difficult roller coaster that is the entrepreneurial journey. I will never have enough words to thank Hani for this journey."

FOCUS: EXPLORING & FACILITATING INNOVATION THAT MATTERS

The four Horizons of Growth

Hani's work and research focus on the orange areas in the graph.

The same evidence-based, value-focused innovation process is applied to both cases. However, the cultural maturity of a startup vs. an established company makes the context very different.

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In the "INITIATE" horizon:

Hani works with founders & founding teams. 

They explore & define the potential of a new thesis of value. 

Culture challenges: Dominant founder opinions.

Risk: Creating something nobody wants.

 

In the "CREATE" horizon,

Hani works with corporate innovation teams. 

They explore and discover a new thesis of value to stay relevant. 

Culture challenges: Dominant corporate politics.

Risk: Creating something nobody wants, unaligned with company strategy, or upsetting the boss!
Sometimes, all three!

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