Builders

What do you do when your company is running out of money, your country is collapsing, and you have $42,000 left?Nasrat Khalid, founder of **Aseel**, decided to spend it helping people who desperately needed food.Join my newsletter https://www.mahmoudkhodor.comIn this episode of Builders, Nasrat shares his extraordinary journey from growing up as a refugee to building a humanitarian technology company helping people access aid more directly. We talk about why he left a career working with major international institutions, how Aseel started as an “Etsy for Afghanistan,” and how the collapse of Afghanistan forced him to completely rethink the company.We also explore the business of impact: why Nasrat believes profitability and social impact don't have to conflict, how technology can make humanitarian aid more transparent, and what AI could mean for the future of humanitarian work.### In this episode:- Growing up as a refugee and experiencing humanitarian crises firsthand- Why Nasrat left the world of international development- How Aseel started as an “Etsy for Afghanistan”- The collapse of Afghanistan and the decision to spend $42,000 on food- Building a decentralized humanitarian aid platform- Why traditional aid systems struggle to reach people effectively- How Aseel tracks donations and delivers aid- Can a company be profitable while maximizing social impact?- The future of humanitarian technology and AI- Nasrat's vision for Aseel and the next generation of entrepreneurs### Chapters00:00 — He Had $42,000 Left02:30 — Growing Up as a Refugee08:20 — Why He Left International Development14:15 — Building Aseel21:30 — When Afghanistan Collapsed28:00 — Spending $42,000 on Food34:30 — Rethinking Humanitarian Aid41:00 — Can Impact Be Profitable?47:00 — The Future of Aseel & AIIf you enjoy conversations about **startups, entrepreneurship, technology, humanitarian aid, AI, impact investing and building companies with purpose**, subscribe to Builders.#Entrepreneurship #Startups #HumanitarianAid #AI #Impact #Afghanistan #Aseel #Builders

What makes a smart, experienced trader lose $6 million on a single trade?In this episode of Builders, I sit down with Tarik Chebib, CEO of Capital.com, to explore the psychology of trading, and why greed, fear, leverage and loss aversion can destroy even highly experienced traders.We discuss what separates successful traders from people who simply get lucky, why the best traders focus on hundreds of trades rather than one big win, how to manage risk and emotions, and why having a trading plan matters more than trying to predict the market.We also dive into AI and investing, including whether you should trust AI with your money, how AI can help investors find opportunities, and why there may never be a “holy grail” trading system.In this episode:• How a trader went from $1.5M in profit to a $6M loss• Why smart people can become terrible traders• The psychology of greed, fear and loss aversion• Why traders should pre-plan their trades• How leverage can amplify both gains and losses• The difference between trading, investing and gambling• Why revenge trading destroys accounts• What makes a consistently successful trader• The hidden risks of prop firms and trading challenges• Why human psychology is often the weakest link• How AI can help with investment research• Whether AI could eventually trade your money• Why there is no “holy grail” trading strategy• What beginners should learn before they start tradingChapters00:00 — The $6M Trading Loss00:48 — Why Traders Lose Control02:58 — What Successful Traders Do Differently04:27 — How to Control Your Emotions07:47 — Greed, Loss Aversion & Revenge Trading10:44 — Trading vs. Investing vs. Gambling13:17 — When Luck Looks Like Skill16:42 — The Dangers of Leverage18:52 — The $6M Brexit Trade25:00 — How Brokers Make Money27:04 — The Prop Firm Business29:01 — Why Smart People Become Bad Traders38:24 — Trading Is Psychology42:29 — Can AI Beat the Market?48:42 — What Beginners Should LearnIf you enjoy conversations about trading, investing, entrepreneurship, AI, financial markets and human psychology, subscribe to Builders for more conversations with people building and shaping the future.#Trading #TradingPsychology #Investing #StockMarket #AI #Finance #RiskManagement #Entrepreneurship #Builders #TradingStrategy

What if the best dating app is the one designed to get you off it?Shahzad Yunas, founder and CEO of Muzz, joins me to unpack how dating apps really work—and why Muzz was deliberately built differently.We talk about the incentives behind dating apps, why Muzz adds friction instead of removing it, turning down Match Group, banning over 1 million accounts, what millions of users have taught him about relationships, and how AI could completely change matchmaking.Chapters:00:00 AI, matchmaking & authenticity00:17 The dating app designed to lose customers02:01 What traditional dating apps get wrong10:24 Why Muzz makes dating harder14:03 Why Muzz banned 1 million accounts23:12 Why he turned down Match Group36:16 The future of dating & AI#DatingApps #Muzz #AI #Matchmaking #ShahzadYunas

In this episode, I sit down with Hasan Haidar, Founder and Managing Partner of Plus VC, one of the Middle East's most active early-stage venture capital firms. Having invested in more than 250 startups, Hasan shares the unconventional principles that guide his investment decisions, and why he believes ideas are worthless without execution.We discuss how Plus VC backed companies like Calo and Floward, why Hasan ignores traditional startup metrics like TAM and five-year financial projections, what separates extraordinary founders from everyone else, and the future of the MENA startup ecosystem, AI, and venture capital.Whether you're a founder raising capital, an investor, or simply interested in startups and entrepreneurship, this conversation is packed with practical insights and contrarian wisdom.Plus VC Website: https://plus.vc/Topics covered:-What VCs really look for in startup founders- Why execution beats ideas every time- How Plus VC evaluates early-stage startups- The truth about TAM, pitch decks, and financial projections- AI startups, venture capital trends, and the future of MENA tech- How to build a billion-dollar company in the Middle East00:00 Intro01:00 Why Hasan Invested in Calo and Floward05:28 The Traits of Extraordinary Founders12:32 Why Most VCs Get It Wrong15:19 Why Startups Really Fail21:05 "Ideas Are Worthless"28:01 The Future of the MENA Startup Ecosystem38:00 AI, Startup Trends & What Founders Should Build45:20 Hard Lessons from 250+ Startup Investments49:18 Advice for Founders Raising Capital

In this episode, I sit down with Ahmet Bahadir, founder and CEO of Airalo, the company that pioneered the global eSIM revolution and became the world's first eSIM unicorn. We explore his extraordinary journey—from supplying groceries to cargo ships in Turkey to building a global technology company used by millions of travelers.Bahadir shares the unbelievable story of creating a fake multinational company with 60 different identities, the terrifying moment Airalo had only $36,000 left in the bank during COVID, and why he believes people are not KPIs. We also discuss startup culture, product-market fit, leadership, company culture, fundraising, AI, and why founders shouldn't treat building a business like going to war.If you're interested in startups, entrepreneurship, product management, company culture, SaaS, AI, venture capital, or building category-defining companies, this conversation is packed with timeless lessons.Topics covered: Airalo, eSIM, entrepreneurship, startup strategy, product-market fit, company culture, leadership, founder mindset, venture capital, AI startups, product management, and building billion-dollar businesses.00:00 Intro00:43 Airalo Almost Died: $36,000 Left in the Bank02:51 From Selling Groceries to Ships to Building Airalo07:00 The Birth of the Global eSIM Revolution10:10 The Hardest Part of Building a Unicorn13:28 Why Company Culture Matters More Than Growth16:37 "People Are Not KPIs"26:59 Why He Rejects Silicon Valley Hustle Culture35:03 The Biggest Founder Delusion: Product-Market Fit38:14 What Building Airalo Taught Ahmet Bahadir41:04 Outro

What if you could build a billion-dollar empire from what everyone else ignored?In this episode, Toufic Kreidieh, Founder and Executive Chairman of Brands For Less Group (BFL Group), reveals how he transformed overstock and unsold goods into one of the Middle East’s most powerful retail empires, now valued at over $1.2 billion.Toufic shares his raw lessons on building resilience, leadership through chaos, and redefining value in an industry built on perception. This conversation goes far beyond retail — it’s about vision, risk, and what it really takes to win.If you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or product leader, this episode is packed with practical insights on scaling, branding, and building enduring companies.Subscribe to my newsletter https://www.mahmoudkhodor.comConnect with Toufic on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toufic-kreidieh-1103433b/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toufic.kreidiehTicktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toufic.kreidiehBrands For Less Website: https://www.brandsforless.com🕒 Timeline00:00 – Intro & Toufic’s early drive03:45 – How Brands For Less began10:30 – Turning “unsold” into opportunity17:10 – Scaling across the Middle East23:55 – The mindset behind a billion-dollar empire31:40 – Why success can destroy you faster than failure39:20 – The TJX deal and the future of retail46:00 – Toufic’s advice to ambitious founders

In this episode, we sit down with Greg McKeown, the bestselling author of Essentialism and Effortless. Greg explains why "insecure overachievers" often fail by pushing too hard and introduces the 85% Rule to sustain peak performance. We discuss his 1-2-3 Method for daily priority setting and his new mission to train "Signalists"—people who can cut through emotional noise to build shared meaning in a polarized world.Learn more with : https://gregmckeown.com/Condensed YouTube Chapters0:00 - The Overachiever’s Mistake: Why maximum effort fails2:55 - The 85% Rule: Sustaining consistency over intensity4:55 - Low Standards, High Results: The secret to daily streaks8:20 - Survival Lessons: Why the Norwegian team beat the British to the Pole15:30 - The Effortless Equation: Why "Easy" is not "Lazy"18:20 - Warren Buffett’s Strategy: High trust and "one-foot fences"28:30 - The Power Half-Hour: The "What? So What? Now What?" protocol30:20 - The 1-2-3 Method: Defining your actual daily priority34:50 - Digital Disorientation: Managing information and emotion overload46:35 - The Rogerian Rule: An antidote to polarization and conflict54:20 - Becoming a Signalist: Solving the "Understanding Gap"1:06:10 - Leadership Insights: Satya Nadella’s symbolic move at Microsoft1:11:00 - Greg’s Essential Reading List: Books to free your mind

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with world-renowned behavioral scientist and bestselling author Dan Ariely. While Dan is famous for his work on rational (and irrational) decision-making, our conversation takes an unexpected and profound turn into the psychology of the end of life.Dan shares his unique perspective as both a scientist and an end-of-life doula, reflecting on how our final chapters color the entirety of our existence. We discuss the "unexamined life," why we are so risk-averse in our romantic relationships, and the powerful legacy left behind by his mother. Whether you are looking to live more intentionally or seeking comfort in the face of life’s biggest questions, this episode offers a freeing look at what it means to be human.Learn more about Dan: https://danariely.com/Chapters0:00 - Emotional Opening: The difficulty of the unexamined life0:18 - Redefining Quality of Life: Palliative care and the 5-year study9:30 - The End-of-Life Doula: The 5 pillars of a "good death"11:55 - The Marriage Metaphor: Why the end colors everything16:15 - Personal Stories: Choosing dignity and stopping treatment27:50 - Legacy and Parents: Lessons from Dan’s mother42:10 - The Psychology of Risk: Why we are afraid to change46:40 - The Romantic Gap: Why we underperform in love51:45 - 4 Tools for an Examined Life: Yearly audits and artistic outlets1:00:15 - Final Thoughts and Where to Find Dan

"If you’re explaining, you’re losing." In this episode, we sit down with legendary FBI hostage negotiator and author of Never Split the Difference, Chris Voss. He reveals why your "elevator pitch" is likely failing, how to use the power of "No" to get what you want, and the neuroscience-backed secrets to winning any business deal or fixing any relationship.Chris shares his "Accusations Audit" technique and explains why emotional intelligence—not logic—is the true key to human persuasion. If you've ever felt like you were "vomiting words" in a high-pressure meeting, this conversation is your antidote.Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.mahmoudkhodor.com

Chris Voss is a former FBI lead kidnapping negotiator, bestselling author of Never Split The Difference, and founder and CEO of The Black Swan Group; a negotiation, training, coaching, and consulting organization that teaches people how to achieve better outcomes in high-stakes conversations.
Recognized globally as a leading authority on negotiation, Chris developed his approach through decades of experience in crisis negotiation. Today, he and The Black Swan Group apply those principles to business, sales, leadership, difficult conversations, and high-stakes communication through The Black Swan Method® and Tactical Empathy®.
Never Split The Difference has introduced millions of readers around the world to Chris's negotiation methodology. Through The Black Swan Group, Chris and his team help people go beyond understanding the concepts in the book and develop negotiation as a practical, repeatable performance skill through training, coaching, practice, and live experiences.
The Black Swan Group offers in-person negotiation training, live and self-paced online negotiation training, coaching, keynote speaking, and advanced negotiation experiences for business owners, leaders, sales professionals, and other professionals who want to become more effective dealmakers.
Learn from Chris Voss and The Black Swan Group:Negotiation training and resources: https://www.blackswanltd.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=builderspodcast
In-person and live training: https://www.blackswanltd.com/live-events?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=builderspodcast
Online negotiation training: https://www.blackswanltd.com/online-negotiation-classes?utm_source=youtube&utm=social&utm_campaign=builderspodcast

🕒 Episode

Chapters00:00 – The 6-Second Rule: Why Explaining is Losing

01:24 – The Sequencing Secret: Listening vs. Explaining

02:41 – The Power of "That’s Right" and Being Corrected

03:52 – Logic vs. Emotion: What Actually Drives Decisions?

05:51 – The Academic Trap: Why Being "Eloquent" Fails

06:30 – How to Fix Your Elevator Pitch (The Accusations Audit)

07:43 – The Inoculation Effect: Warning People of "Harsh" News

10:19 – How Chris Voss Disarmed Kevin O’Leary at a Staircase

13:00 – Lessons from the Philippines: The "Team" on the Other Side

16:34 – The Power of the Obvious Question

18:52 – Why You Should Start with "No" (The Autonomy Principle)

21:23 – Case Study: Using "No" to Save an FBI Career

23:37 – What Emotions Are People Most Blind To?

25:20 – 3 Steps to Becoming a Better Negotiator Tomorrow

28:14 – Weaponizing Your Name: The "I'm Chris" Technique

30:06 – Labeling: The Neuroscience of Diminishing Fear

34:02 – Influence vs. Manipulation: What’s the Difference?

35:20 – When to Walk Away: Identifying "H.A.L.F." Clients

38:58 – How Negotiation Skills Can Take You to Private Jets

In this episode, I sit down with Philip Bahoshy, founder & CEO of Magnitt, to break down what’s really happening to venture capital in MENA amid rising geopolitical tensions.We’re recording this at a critical moment, and the big question is:Are we on the verge of losing an entire generation of startups?Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.mahmoudkhodor.comGet reports from https://magnitt.com/Follow Philip for more insights on MENA VC https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipbahoshy/We go deep into:- Why late-stage funding gets hit first in every crisis- The hidden cracks in the MENA startup ecosystem- What founders should do in the next 30–90 days- Where the real opportunities are (AI, infrastructure, defense, and more)- Whether sovereign funds can replace international capitalIf you’re a founder, investor, or operator in MENA, this is essential listening.00:00 Are we entering a funding freeze?02:30 What actually breaks during a crisis06:10 Why late-stage funding collapses first07:20 What founders should do now09:20 The risk of losing a generation of startups21:20 Where the real opportunities are (AI & infrastructure)24:20 Why exits and liquidity will slow down30:20 Can sovereign capital save MENA VC?