About this episode
Building digital twins of oil terminals, refineries, and even nuclear power plants sounds futuristic, but that’s exactly what HyBird is doing. Using laser scanning, video, and photogrammetry, they create ultra-realistic 3D models to transform how these facilities handle maintenance, inspections, and operations. Ahmed Hadid shares how he and his co-founder Mo turned a university project into a full-blown maintenance management solution, all while navigating the chaos of early COVID days and running lean as a startup. From finding product-market fit through hands-on sales to hiring the right team and joining the Techstars Space program, Ahmed dives into the grit and grind of building a company for complex industrial enterprises—and why having investors who roll up their sleeves matters.Learn more about HyBird: https://www.hybirdtech.com/Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.ioClick here to watch a video of this episode.
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00:00 - Intro01:52 - What is Hybrid Technology06:07 - Hybrid vs. Other Digital Twin Solutions11:52 - Data Accuracy vs. Reality19:15 - Common Use Cases for Hybrid Solutions21:30 - The Journey of Clarity22:05 - Product Development Challenges25:00 - Pivoting to Maintenance Strategies27:15 - My First Startup Experience29:16 - Team Size and Structure32:20 - Techstars Experience37:09 - Lessons for Starting a Business Today37:50 - Fundraising During COVID-1942:18 - Overcoming Hard Times in Business44:30 - Defining Moments for Founders47:00 - Venture Capitalists and Fundraising48:40 - Importance of Revenue and Profitability53:40 - Founder-Led Sales Strategieshttps://www.instagram.com/digitalwildcattershttps://www.tiktok.com/@digitalwildcattershttps://www.facebook.com/digitalwildcattershttps://twitter.com/DWildcatters
