Mohamed Okasha, managing partner at Disruptech Ventures: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is Disruptech Ventures Managing Partner Mohamed Okasha (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts from our conversation:

My name is Mohamed Okasha. I come from an IT and telecoms background and have worked in several companies, including Raya and Vodafone Egypt. In 2009, I left Vodafone to start Fawry with a couple of other co-founders. We had quite the journey and listed the company on the EGX in 2019. But at the start of 2020, I stepped down from my role as Fawry’s managing director to launch the venture capital fund Disruptech.

Disruptech was first born as an idea in 2020 and officially established in 2021. In 2022, we closed its first funding round, and so far, we’ve invested in about 25 startups. The fund’s idea was built around establishing an early-stage, pre-seed fund. We invest in Egyptian companies, or companies founded by Egyptians, that need funding and support during their initial, 18-month development phase. This is the idea upon which we built Disruptech.

As the name Disruptech implies, we look for tech startups that create disruption through the use of technology. Fintech is our main focus, and most of our investments are in this crucial sector, which comes from the need to address the limitations that are present in financial and banking infrastructure in Egypt and the wider Arab world. Fintechs are filling in the gaps, solving problems, and collaborating with banks to provide solutions to promote financial inclusion.

We have seen two new trends emerging lately that are drawing attention from investors and founders. One is the use of AI to create more efficient businesses in financial services and other areas. The other is how companies are using blockchain technology to tokenize real-world assets.

I’m an early riser. I wake up very early at 5am every day and start the day by praying. I walk to the mosque and back, which gives me time to unwind. Once I’m back, I drink some tea and kick off the work day by answering emails and reading reports for about two hours. Then, everyone in my house wakes up, so I spend some time chatting with the kids and talking with my wife. After this, I jump on the phone to make some calls and head to the office for meetings.

Our job is not a typical 9-5. I don’t have a fixed schedule, as it varies day-to-day. I usually have several meetings, either internally with my colleagues, with a portfolio company, or with external parties. This starts at 10am or 11am at the latest and continues until the meetings are over, whether I am inside or outside the office.

Two things remain constant in my day, whether I’m in Egypt or abroad. I wake up at 5am, regardless of what’s happening or where I am, to pray the fajr prayer, and I call my children studying abroad or my wife and kids in Egypt if I’m travelling.

I am somewhat traditional in that I like to put my thoughts down in writing. In the past, I used to use paper and pen, but lately, I use my phone for everything — I open a note and write down everything I’m thinking about, any plan I want to make, or any vision for solving a problem. I then sit down and arrange these ideas in a structured and meaningful way until I am convinced of the final direction. Once the plan reaches maturity and I am convinced of the approach, I execute the necessary steps.

On a personal level, my goals include improving my health, doing more physical activities, and traveling more. When I have more spare time, I will be able to enjoy life the way I want to.

I believe that at Disruptech, we have built a strong foundation for a company with a solid reputation, and it really adds value. My dream is for it to continue its scaling and growth over time, driven by our current team. And from there, I can achieve my personal goal of stepping down and spending less time working, passing the torch to other people to manage this company and take it to the next level.

I was lucky that my first job was with someone who was a legend in managing companies and people. The best advice he gave me is that you only fail when you stop trying. As long as you are trying, it means there is still a chance for you to achieve what you want. This is something I remind myself of every day.

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