BEntrepreneur Magazine sat down with Muaad Bani, founder of Supplify and one of the winners of this year’s Startup Weekend to talk about his app, how it feels to win Startup Weekend and his advice for startups.

Startup Weekend- how does it feel to be this year’s winner for Startup Weekend Bahrain? Any take-aways from that experience?

It feels amazing to be a winner but the bigger win was the outstanding experience that we gained, especially getting to know and network with other founders and mentors. The participants and organizers created the wonderful vibes at Bahrain FinTech Bay where the competition took place. In addition to Startup Weekend win, Supplify has been recognized as Regional Winner all over MENA by TechStars which is a greater accomplishment as Supplify represented Bahrain and introduced that concept to the globe. I dedicate this win to the Startup Community & Team Bahrain for their unconditional support.

Supplify- Can you tell us more about Supplify and what inspired you to create the app?

Supplify is a platform that simplifies business needs by helping owners and managers to find the best supplier in town, and Supplify streamlines the ordering process with a focus on F&B industries (as a start). The inspiration came from my humble experience working for Mesk Holdings and by managing the warehouse and the logistics, I noticed the issue in the supply chain. Supplify was an idea that clicked in my mind while attending the Yo Startup boot camp at CH9 a month before the Startup weekend and I decided to test it at the competition. Although I was not selected in the first round at the 60 second pitch, that did not stop me from dreaming and I formed a team in order to compete.

Moving Beyond- Are you on your team set to take Supplify beyond Startup Weekend, and how will you do this?

I am still in the process of forming the A Team that believes in Supplify’s vision and have the time for Supplify to grow as a company. Currently I have signed up a developer who is developing the web app as Minimum Viable Product (MVP). We are 40% finished now. The plan is to have the Beta launched by March 2019. I am currently looking for a Designer to help in designing the UI for Supplify.

Startup Skills- What do you think are the skills required for startups especially for those who want to get into tech & innovation?

You need to have an open mind and flexibility to learn fast about the updates in the Tech world. You need a high level of problem solving skills and have the spirit of moving forward no matter what. No excuses

! Tips- can you share some tips for success to our readers, especially the startup founders out there?

Finding the right team is essential. Behavior and attitude are far more important than skills and knowledge. If you notice a problem or a gap in the market, work on it and test it with the lowest costs that you can afford. Don’t overthink it and just do it.

For more information:
www.supplifyme.com