Tamer El-Manasterly

CO- Founder & COO

Qardy

1-What inspired the creation of this startup?

MSMEs often face complex financing requirements and lengthy approval processes, making access to capital difficult.

We saw an opportunity to simplify lending by digitizing the process, making it faster and more accessible.

Our goal was to remove barriers and empower small businesses with seamless financial solutions.

2- What were the challenges you encountered when you started?
One of the biggest challenges was crafting a value proposition that truly resonated with MSMEs.

We had to deeply understand their pain points and iterate our offering based on real customer feedback.

It took time, testing, and adaptability to refine a solution that met their needs effectively.

3- Who helped you the most in your journey?
Our investors and mentors played a crucial role in shaping our journey.

Their financial support, industry insights, and strategic guidance helped us navigate obstacles.

Having experienced professionals to lean on made a significant difference in our growth.

4- Role of mentorship? Did you have a mentor to guide you?
Mentorship is essential for learning, adapting, and making informed decisions.

A good mentor provides fresh perspectives, helps refine strategies, and offers invaluable support during tough times.

We've benefited greatly from experienced advisors who helped us pivot and grow.

5- What was the first major milestone for the company?
Our first major milestone was launching our prototype and securing partnerships with banks.

This validated our concept and proved that there was demand for our solution.

Later, raising our seed round allowed us to build the right team and scale operations.

6- If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Listen to your customers early and often—they hold the key to product-market fit.

Stay agile, experiment fearlessly, and embrace failures as learning opportunities.

Growth comes from constant iteration and adapting to market needs.

7- Why did you choose to attend Techne Summit, and how has it impacted your business journey?

Techne Summit provides an excellent platform for networking, exposure, and industry insights.

Attending allowed us to connect with key players, investors, and potential partners.

The experience helped us refine our vision and gain valuable feedback on our business approach.