In November 2011, Seeqnce organized Lebanon’s first Internet startup competition called The Execution. It was a month-long startup competition at which  Kol 3a Zaw2ak was the winner.

In the beginning of January, 2012 Kol 3a Zaw2ak moved in to Seeqnce and we used this opportunity to interview Muhammad Tabsh, the business person in Kol 3a Zaw2ak.

What is Kol 3a Zaw2ak? It is a smart phone app that helps you find the best places you can visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; taking into consideration your location, budget and food preferences. However, Muhammad told us that they are going to shift into a narrower concept. They plan to target the vegetarian and vegan people. Next, he was talking about the way he came up with this idea as well as the people behind it.

We found out that although they are not looking for additional team members now, this might change after they launch the app. Following the concept of Minimal Viable Product, right now they are not looking for funding either “but in case we need any funding I’m sure we will find it at hand”, said Muhammad.

Further, Muhammad was talking about the target market their app tries to serve, as well as the biggest challenge and the fear the team faced while working on the idea. When we asked if there are any regrets so far, he said: “Great opportunity, great people to help us, amazing team, peaceful environment to work in, valuable application in hand…. What to regret?!!”

Next, he shared some of the most memorable moments from The Execution. He said: “Since we didn’t sleep for 48 hours, our most memorable moment was Saturday after midnight till Sunday 7:00 a.m; those are the hours we can’t forget. Omar was working on the application, Cyril was designing it, and I was preparing for my pitch. At that moment, pretty much everything made us laugh, and the more tired we got, the more the hunger increased and we started eating anything we saw”.

Muhammad shared his view on startup accelerators like Seeqnce as well as his team’s expectations from their residence at Seeqnce. “What we are expecting is what we are having. Seeqnce is providing us with all the help we need, random advice on exposing the app, their personal opinion regarding what the app looks like, or the thumbnails we are choosing from, all topped with  consultancy in the business, technological, and designing fields”, said Muhammad.

In the end he sent a very inspirational message: “Never give up! If you have an idea you believe in, believe in yourself, and you will pull it through. When you want, you can. When you practice, you master. When you persist, you execute. This is what Lara told me before the pitch”.

 

You can find the full interview transcript below.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Seeqnce: What does Kol-3a-Zaw2ak do?

Muhammad Tabsh: Kol-3a-zaw2ak is a smart phone application for satisfying your hunger desires by finding you the best places you can visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; taking into consideration your location, budget and food preferences.

This was our official application, now we are going to shift it into something niche. Our application will have the same features but targeting the vegetarian and vegan people.

Seeqnce: How did you get the idea?

Muhammad Tabsh: I got the idea when I was sitting in Hamra street one day, and I was thinking of what to have for dinner, so I called a friend and told him to come so we can decide where to eat. After my friend arrived, I discovered that he has the same problem, since we had specific budget to have our meals. Eventually after a long discussion we ate.

After a while I heard about The Execution from Lara (from the Seeqnce team) and a close friend of mine. The idea was ready at the moment! Since I needed such an application, I thought many people faced the same problem and needed this kind of service so here it is: Kol-3a-Zaw2ak!

Seeqnce: Who is the Kol-3a-Zaw2ak team?

Muhammad Tabsh: Kol- 3a-Zaw2ak team members are:

• Muhammad Tabsh, the business person in the team (Marketing student at Global University)

• Omar Addam, the developer in the team (Computer science student at Global University)

• Cyril Sader, the graphic designer in the team (Graphic Design Graduate from AUB)

 

Seeqnce: What stage are you at?

Muhammad Tabsh: We developed our base at The Execution, but you can say we are still at the beginning (seed), and we are going up gradually step by step.

Seeqnce: Are you looking for additional team members?

Muhammad Tabsh: At the moment we don’t need any additional team member(s) since Seeqnce is giving us the help that we want. Maybe after we launch the application we might need additional people to work with us. So it depends.

Seeqnce: Are you looking for funding?

Muhammad Tabsh: The great thing about our application is that it is doable with the amount that we have in our hands. Our application follows the strategy of Minimal viable product. But in case we needed any funding I’m sure we will find it at hand.

Seeqnce: What was the biggest challenge you faced while developing the idea?

Muhammad Tabsh: The biggest challenge we are facing is: How to collect the data. Since in Lebanon we don’t have an official database (census) for restaurants and their menus. So at some point we might be obliged to collect it on our own, which is time consuming and needs a lot of effort.

Seeqnce: What is your target market?

Muhammad Tabsh: After the niche strategy we are going to apply, our target markets are people who are:

• Vegetarian

• Vegetarian friendly

• Vegan

• Vegan friendly

 

Seeqnce: What was your greatest fear while working on the idea?

Muhammad Tabsh: Our greatest fear is “Time”, since Cyril and I have other jobs and I’m still a student, and regarding Omar Addam, he was working on his senior but now he is finished which is good.

Seeqnce: Any regrets so far?

Muhammad Tabsh: Great opportunity, great people to help us, amazing team, peaceful environment to work in, valuable application in hand…. What to regret?!!

Seeqnce: Can you share some of the most memorable moments from The Execution?

Muhammad Tabsh: Since we didn’t sleep for 48 hours, our most memorable moment was Saturday after midnight till Sunday 7:00 a.m; those are the hours we can’t forget. Omar was working on the application, Cyril was designing it, and I was preparing for my pitch… At that moment, pretty much everything made us laugh, and the more tired we got, the more the hunger increased and we started eating anything we saw. Another great moment we cannot forget was Mr. Michel Nehme’s announcement of the winning team at the GEW 2011 Closing Party. When he said:” Global Team” I had goosebumps and was shocked for like 10 seconds.

Seeqnce: What is your view on startup accelerators like Seeqnce?

Muhammad Tabsh: To tell you the truth, we didn’t know what was a startup accelerator before we met Seeqnce. But now we see it as an opportunity to Lebanese people, for those who have great ideas and would like to be unique and special this is their opportunity to start…

Seeqnce: What are your expectations from your residence at Seeqnce?

Muhammad Tabsh: What we are expecting is what we are having.Seeqnce is providing us with all the help we need, random advice on exposing the app, their personal opinions regarding how the app looks like, or the thumbnails we are choosing from, all topped with  consultancy in the business, technological, and designing fields.

Seeqnce: What advice can you give to other entrepreneurs?

Muhammad Tabsh: Never give up! If you have an idea you believe in, believe in yourself, and you will pull it through. When you want, you can. When you practice, you master. When you persist, you execute. This is what Lara told me before the pitch.