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 Lama El Khawanky (LinkedIn), co-founder of Up-Fuse.

My name is Lama El Khawanky and I’m the cofounder of Up-Fuse, which transforms plastic bags into everyday products, like bags, clothes and footwear. Today, Up-Fuse is my life, where I spearhead production and design from the moment we get the plastic bags up until we transform them into an actual product.

After I completed my undergraduate studies in Product Design at the German University in Cairo, I wanted to give myself the chance to explore what I wanted to do. I started exploring with Up-Fuse, before I joined as a cofounder in 2015, and quickly realized that this was what I wanted to do.

The best part of my job is that I can see tangible impact. I can tangibly see the impact we were creating, in terms of turning waste into products, as well as working with women and refugees who learned a new skill through Up-Fuse. We’re helping the environment and the society, and I felt like this is where I belong.

The one thing I gave up throughout the journey was my peace of mind. The idea of disconnecting from work does not exist for me anymore. Even when I’m on vacation, I get anxious and want to be involved in what’s happening because Up-Fuse is my baby.

The one piece of advice I would give people who are starting their business is to always have a plan. This starts with the transition from your current job or position to the company you want to build. Additionally, you need to plan the steps you’ll take in order to build a business to which you’d want to dedicate yourself. And no, it’s not always greener on the other side.

There are three KPIs I frequently check. Firstly, the progress made on new products that we want to launch. Secondly, the team spirit and how the team feels — are they just finishing a task because they have to or are they actually excited about their work? And thirdly, the number of sales we have achieved.

When I need advice, I turn to several people. I mainly turn to my partners and my business coach. I also talk to founders of similar startups to get their input on problems we all share, like legal issues, for example.

Having said that, I don’t think that being a founder is a lonely journey. As a founder, you always need to make connections and get to know new people. But it also depends on the founder themselves.

So far, Up-Fuse has mainly relied on grants and competitions as a source of financing. These include Hivos, MIT Saudi Arabia and El Fanar. We’re considering fundraising from investors in return for equity in the future.

Our short-term plans mainly revolve around expansion. We worked on the giveaways of COP27 and are hoping to do the same for COP28. We also now have an international website that sells in Germany because we have huge potential there. We also want to expand our training programs, which we’ve conducted with the UN’s International Organization for Migration, where we train women on upcycling, sewing, and opening their own business.

We also want to expand our material library. We’ve already integrated plastic bottles and car tires, and we’re looking to add more waste types to the mix in the short-term. Our long-term goal is to become an international brand.

My father never understood what I actually did, until he saw our shop at the North Coast. That’s when he got excited. Both my mum and sister are very proud of me and supportive.

The last thing I read was The Speed of Trust by Stephen MR Covey. It basically tackles how to get your team to trust you without forcing it.

In my freetime I play CrossFit and run. I also love to travel and try new food, taking walks, seeing my friends. I like to be active.

One startup that I think is killing it is Palma. The founder inspires me and I think he’s doing a great job.

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