Building digital twins of oil terminals, refineries, and even nuclear power plants sounds futuristic, but that’s exactly what HyBird is doing. Using laser scanning, video, and photogrammetry, they create ultra-realistic 3D models to transform how these facilities handle maintenance, inspections, and operations. Ahmed Hadid shares how he and his co-founder Mo turned a university project into a full-blown maintenance management solution, all while navigating the chaos of early COVID days and running lean as a startup. From finding product-market fit through hands-on sales to hiring the right team and joining the Techstars Space program, Ahmed dives into the grit and grind of building a company for complex industrial enterprises—and why having investors who roll up their sleeves matters.

Learn more about HyBird: https://www.hybirdtech.com/

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00:00 - Intro
01:52 - What is Hybrid Technology
06:07 - Hybrid vs. Other Digital Twin Solutions
11:52 - Data Accuracy vs. Reality
19:15 - Common Use Cases for Hybrid Solutions
21:30 - The Journey of Clarity
22:05 - Product Development Challenges
25:00 - Pivoting to Maintenance Strategies
27:15 - My First Startup Experience
29:16 - Team Size and Structure
32:20 - Techstars Experience
37:09 - Lessons for Starting a Business Today
37:50 - Fundraising During COVID-19
42:18 - Overcoming Hard Times in Business
44:30 - Defining Moments for Founders
47:00 - Venture Capitalists and Fundraising
48:40 - Importance of Revenue and Profitability
53:40 - Founder-Led Sales Strategies

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