Mostafa Ashour

CEO and Cofounder @ NowPay

About

Mostafa Ashour began his professional career as a software engineer at IBM. In 2005, he decided to delve into the adventure of creating a technology startup. Driven by passion for both software development and gaming, he co-founded Khayal Interactive Entertainment, one of the pioneer game development studios in the MENA region. During his work at Khayal, he developed the nV Physics SDK, and launched the first 3D game to target the MENA region (Abo Hadeed). The game received over 1M user activations and was sponsored by Intel and TE Data. In August 2008, he joined Microsoft as a Program Manager where he was one of the main drivers behind Microsoft Maren and has contributed to building technologies that shipped in Office, Bing, and Microsoft Translator. He was identified as a high potential Microsoft employee (HiPo) and selected for the emerging leader Bench program, a career acceleration program that identifies the company's top 5%. In 2013, he decided to go back to the startup scene and co-founded Tryvin, a mobile development startup where he sold its first product Resume Designer Pro to French-based Akkad. Mostafa is now the founder of NowPay, a 500 startups company that focuses on financial-wellness. Mostafa is experienced in startups and managing incubation teams and currently holds two patents. He authored one of the first books about startups in MENA. Aside from his profession, he likes reading, football, and was regularly among Egypt's Taekwondo champions for more than 10 years.

Country

United States

City

Santa Clara

Industry

Computer Software

Skill

Software Development, C++, Product Management, Team Leadership, Game Design, Startup Development, Start-ups, Program Management, C#, Integration, Software Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Software Design, Agile Methodologies, Software Project Management, Telecommunications, Game Development, Management, Business Development, Scrum

Experience

CEO and Cofounder

NowPay

2019-1 - Present · 7 yrs 9 mos

San Francisco Bay Area | Cairo | Dubai

NowPay is a FinTech startup that focuses on improving the financial-wellness of corporate employees. NowPay is backed by 500 Startups and Endure capital. https://www.nowpay.cash

Entrepreneur In Residence

TA telecom

2018-7 - Present · 8 yrs 3 mos

Cofounder and Managing Partner

Tryvin

2014-1 - Present · 12 yrs 9 mos

• Tryvin is a software house that focuses on mobile app development • iOS Expertise that go back to 2009, one year after Apple’s first SDK release • Focuses on productivity apps and gaming • Produced a number of top ranking apps for the US market • Provides consultancies for: - App development - User experience - App Marketing - Appstore Search Optimization (ASO) - Monetization strategies - Mobile advertising For more information visit: http://www.tryvin.com

Program Manager

Microsoft

2008-8 - Present · 18 yrs 2 mos

• Identified as a high potential Microsoft employee (HiPo) and selected for the emerging leader Bench program. A career acceleration program that focuses on the top 5% of the company. • Successful track record of initiating and managing technology transfer from Research to Development • Responsible for managing relationships with PGs resulting in a track record of shipping with different Microsoft teams including Microsoft Translator, Office, SharePoint and Bing.

Cofounder and Managing Partner

Boximize

2014-1 - 2016-1 · 2 yrs 1 mo

www.Boximize.com

Managing Partner

Khayal Interactive Entertainment

2005-9 - 2008-8 · 3 yrs

• Succeeded in securing funding to Khayal by winning Egypt's annual Business Plan competition in 2005. • Contributed to both the development/technical and business sides of Khayal. • Assumed multiple roles in the startup including: project manager, game developer, game tester, game producer, business development & marketing • Co-developed a physics simulation library (nV Physics SDK www.nvphysics.com). nV is a physics engine that is used to handle all the physical calculations required for the realistic motion of rigid bodies on behalf of the calling application • Co-developed and co-designed the first 3D game to target the Egyptian market: Abo Hadeed (. The game is based upon a famous Egyptian character and is based in a totally Egyptian environment. (English version: www,abohadeed.com) (Arabic version www.abo7adeed.com) • Game activated 1M+ times • Initiated and managed partner relationships with Intel, Vodafone, and TE Data (Egypt’s #1 ISP) leading to adver-gaming sponsorships and establishing Khayal as an Intel software partner. • Built social media and marketing strategy for the game