OUR FOUNDER OF THE WEEK- Every Tuesday, Founder of the Week looks at how a successful member of Egypt’s startup community got their big break, asks about their experiences running a business, and gets their advice for budding entrepreneurs. Speaking to us this week is Amr Farid (LinkedIn), co-founder and CEO of Dyne.

My name is Amr Farid and I am the co-founder and CEO of Dyne, a dynamic one-stop-shop to facilitate the operation of restaurants. Dyne is transforming the restaurant industry by turning real-time data into actionable insights for restaurant owners. Our platform offers a comprehensive suite of digital services, including menu management, ordering, payments, reservations, and a unique loyalty program — all aimed at enhancing customer experiences and operational efficiency.

I graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from MSA, and spent 12 years rotating through various departments at Vodafone. These included finance, HR, channel marketing, marketing communications, consumer segment, and technical. This provided me with a comprehensive understanding of how the company operates.

Dyne is my second entrepreneurial venture, following the success of SPADE Consulting, which I co-founded in 2016. SPADE quickly became one of the top 10 digital and marketing agencies in Egypt, with a footprint in the GCC and Europe. In late 2021, I saw a gap in the F&B sector that required a fully digitized platform, and that’s when Dyne was born.

That gap in the market was huge, and was specifically evident during Covid-19, when digital menus and QR codes caught on — a quick fix for a perpetual issue. It shouldn’t have been about having a soft copy of the menu on the customer’s phone — the digitized platform should be interactive and provide data that would then improve the customer experience.

We currently serve over 100 branches across Egypt, UAE, and KSA, helping them streamline operations and reduce waste in fulfillment of one of our key principles: “Eat, drink, but not excessively.” Unlike competitors, Dyne integrates tools that provide deep, actionable customer insights, fostering loyalty and driving profitability.

While we are still early in our journey, a key indicator of potential success is the market’s positive response to our services. Operating in three countries is a strong testament to our growing influence and the value we bring to the F&B industry.

In five years, our goal is to become the market leader in providing seamless digital experiences within restaurants. We plan to achieve this by continuously innovating our platform, expanding our market presence, and building strong partnerships across the F&B sector.

The current economic climate, particularly in Egypt, is challenging. However, the F&B sector remains relatively stable, as dining out has become a primary leisure activity for consumers. Our platform focuses on cost optimization, making our services highly appealing to restaurants striving to maintain profitability amid economic uncertainty.

Balancing work and life in a startup environment is challenging, but it’s all about effective time management and commitment. Personally, I maintain this balance by playing professional football in the 4th League Division, which demands time, training, and dedication. It's all about timestamping, too. I’m punctual. I sometimes book slots for meetings with my kids. If I don’t have everything down on a calendar then I wouldn’t get anything done.

There’s this book I highly recommend. It’s called The Future is Faster Than You Think. It gives you insight on what to expect and how to make every plan that you have in mind easier to achieve.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self to focus on connections and growing my network. It’s all about building relationships, and it’s worth investing time in.

Advice I would give to new entrepreneurs is to be consistent and patient. The entrepreneurial journey is full of ups and downs, but perseverance is essential in the long journey to claim success. Launching is just the start.

Tags: