The GCC's Tech Vanguard: AHOY's Jamil Shinawi
The co-founder and CEO of AHOY was one of the 30 innovators celebrated in Inc. Arabia's December 2024 special feature, The GCC's Tech Vanguard.
Serial entrepreneur and tech aficionado Jamil Shinawi co-founded AHOY in 2018 with the aim of providing a technological infrastructure to facilitate easier movement of goods, people, information, and money by leveraging cutting-edge spatial intelligence. Today, the deep tech company is on a mission to support 10,000 entrepreneurs and provide solutions to empower and upskill 30,000 software developers across the MENA by 2030.
“AHOY does not only close the skillset gap and level the playing field to many engineers, but it also allows any country to improve its reach and localize its technology with the talent associated,” Shinawi points out. “We do not touch anyone’s data and come to the space to disrupt many players; we believe that privacy is a human right. In addition, AHOY’s tech is helping economies save money and lives in fields ranging from better infrastructure and services to better traffic safety and emergency response.”
With its open-source models, AHOY thus aims to optimize efficiencies and allow companies to scale more efficiently as well as to facilitate cross-border collaborations. “AHOY’s decentralized AI models, particularly its AHOY Motion Stack (AMS), automate critical functions in industries like logistics, traffic management, and aviation, improving operational efficiency and scalability while resolving complex mathematical problems for developers to enable them to breakthrough knowledge, time and cost extensive challenges,” Shinawi says. “By providing open-source access to developers, AHOY encourages global collaboration and the development of new solutions.”
A Playbook For Success: Q&A With Jamil Shinawi
When and why did you become interested in the tech solutions that your company currently offers?
“I've been immersed in tech since my childhood and, as a serial deep tech entrepreneur, I’ve always sought to reimagine possibilities, like many builders do. Beyond technology, I’m also a passionate enthusiast of math and computational physics. Back in 2008, I encountered a humanitarian challenge to develop software aimed at mitigating earthquake disasters, which profoundly shaped my journey. During this time, I noticed a significant gap in skilled engineers — those who could seamlessly combine coding with mathematical expertise. This realization inspired me to take things further. In 2018, I joined forces with a team to create tools designed to bridge this gap, connecting software to the real world in ways more impactful than ever before.”
Given the investment that GCC countries are putting into tech, what role do you think the region will play in this domain, globally, in the future?
“AHOY is optimistic about the GCC emerging as a new global center and one of the leading tech hubs in the near future. The region has taken its time to learn, beginning its journey with digital transformation by adapting and localizing software-as-a-solution inspired by more advanced markets. Today, however, the GCC has surpassed those beginnings, creating globally recognized case studies in e-government and progressive regulations.
We are reinventing the rules of the game, with deep tech companies like AHOY leading the charge. The GCC now boasts a diverse global talent pool, driving investment in technology and knowledge. Furthermore, the region’s abundant energy resources, crucial for artificial intelligence (AI), are already being exported worldwide. Coupled with its central geographical position, which enhances communication networks, the GCC stands poised to shape the future of technology and innovation.”
What’s your advice for people/businesses looking to start/grow in the GCC’s tech domain?
“First, no one and no tech company or stack is too big to be challenged. Push the boundaries, and rethink every possibility - the world has potential for non-incremental progress. Second, consistency is a sign of quality. It might not be easy, but if you do it one day at a time, you might surprise yourself. Being intelligent is not enough – persistence and determination are omnipotent. And lastly, find purpose and impact in what you do – employ values, rather than goals and vanity metrics.”
AHOY's Jamil Shinawi was one of the 30 innovators celebrated in Inc. Arabia's December 2024 special feature, The GCC's Tech Vanguard. For the full list of The GCC's Tech Vanguard, please click here.
