Interview
Too Cool for School
Interview moderated by Victor Ayache.
You studied Political Science but are a digital guru by passion and practice. Could you please share more about your educational background and early career, highlighting your passion for technology, development, and the digital world?
I started coding at the age of 12 while living in Melbourne. I developed a pre-Facebook platform for the Lebanese diaspora. Upon returning to Beirut, I attended the American University of Beirut and initially pursued computer science. However, I later shifted to political science, which is less intense, and helped me focus more on coding, in which I was already deeply involved as a side job. My journey began with my first professional client 15 years ago, an engineering company that remains a client to this day. Wondering Cloud emerged from this project, and years of coding, development, and digital infrastructure consulting, initially established in Beirut and now operating from Berlin.
You started your career in Australia, moved to Beirut, and are now based in Berlin. What can you tell us about the differences between the three ecosystems concerning incubating and encouraging digital/tech projects or individuals?
While I didn't work extensively in Australia, being part of the Commonwealth countries, they maintain strong affiliations with the UK
and the Western world, so they share lots of similarities.
Obviously, Germany's historic institutions boast solid ideas, ethos, and strict methodologies that unify and inspire, but talking about startups, in Berlin, they definitely benefit from a supportive ecosystem but can encounter hurdles due to German bureaucracy. In contrast, places like Lebanon embrace organized chaos and freedom, accelerating startups with a head-first approach.
What are you currently working on at the moment?
Presently, I'm focusing on a health tech platform and application, an industry I've been involved in previously. Additionally, I'm venturing into psycho-health app development with partners. Wondering Cloud is also engaged in various projects, including the Beirut Design Week collaboration with partners like yourself, Bananamonkey, MWPR and others.
AI, Machine Learning, Voice Protocols, and blockchain applications, or Web3 in general, are paving the way for the future. Adoption rates are increasing, and low-cost alternatives are emerging. How do you see this evolution?
AI and machine learning have been evolving for years, and now we're experiencing an exponential phase – with the accumulation of vast data and unprecedented computational power, AI will reshape the future. As for Web3 and blockchain, while they offer immense potential, I feel their complexity may hinder mainstream adoption at this stage.