Hani W. Naguib
Since 2012
About
Hani W. Naguib is a passionate advocate for evidence-based entrepreneurship, customer-centric design, and empathetic mentoring for founders. As the founder of HNT Innovation Studio, he leads efforts to inspire and equip innovators with the tools, mindset, and frameworks needed to thrive.
With an MBA from the prestigious SDA Bocconi School of Management and over a decade of experience, Hani has collaborated with influential organizations on innovation projects and startup training programs. His extensive work has shaped his belief that a founder's journey begins with their perception—cultivating the right mindset transforms building a successful startup from a challenge into an inevitable outcome.
Hani has volunteered over 10,000 hours mentoring early-stage founders, guiding them to make value-focused, evidence-based progress while identifying and addressing blind spots in their startup logic. The insights gained from these experiences have enriched his approach and fueled his passion for empowering entrepreneurs.
To pay it forward, Hani authored the internationally published book Mindset to Startup, distilling his knowledge and experiences to support the next generation of founders on their journey to success.
"Evidence-Based Entrepreneurship is the art of asking better questions and the science of finding tangible answers."
Hani W. Naguib
GSA AFRICAN ECOSYSTEM HERO OF THE YEAR 2023
GSA African Ecosystem Hero of the Year Award recognizes an individual with a remarkable commitment to entrepreneurship, who actively shapes the entrepreneurial landscape through supportive and innovative initiatives. Known for their impactful contributions in nurturing startup growth and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, the Ecosystem Hero of The Year leads a specific organization or activity with exceptional dedication. Their work, performed within their home country, stands out for fostering entrepreneurship and nurturing startup growth.
Is Entrepreneurship for Everyone?
In his TEDx talk at Cairo University, Hani Naguib explores whether entrepreneurship is suitable for everyone, emphasizing that success hinges on learning from mistakes, adapting to market realities, and maintaining an updated perception. He illustrates this with examples of two entrepreneurs: one whose rigid opinion hindered progress, and another who thrived by aligning technology with customer value. Naguib concludes that while not everyone will be the next Elon Musk, focusing on one's resources and constantly asking "what if?" can lead to entrepreneurial success, provided opinions do not obstruct perceptions.
JOURNEY REFLECTIONS WITH AHMED NAGUIB
In this wonderful conversation with Ahmed Naguib, Hani W. Naguib delves into the transformative experiences and lessons learned throughout his journey. From overcoming challenges to mentoring aspiring founders, this reflection captures the essence of growth, resilience, and the continuous pursuit of innovation in the startup world. Join Hani as he shares insights and stories that have shaped his path and fueled his passion for nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
FOCUS: EXPLORING & FACILITATING INNOVATION THAT MATTERS
Hani's work and research focus on the orange areas in the graph.
The same evidence-based, value-focused innovation process is applied to both cases. However, the cultural maturity of a startup vs. an established company makes the context very different.
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In the "INITIATE" horizon:
Hani works with founders & founding teams.
They explore & define the potential of a new thesis of value.
Culture challenges: Dominant founder opinions.
Risk: Creating something nobody wants.
In the "CREATE" horizon,
Hani works with corporate innovation teams.
They explore and discover a new thesis of value to stay relevant.
Culture challenges: Dominant corporate politics.
Risk: Creating something nobody wants, unaligned with company strategy, or upsetting the boss!
Sometimes, all three!
