A chat with Ahmed Al Rawi, the founder and CEO of Calo, to discuss how he built the leading meal subscription service in MENA in just three years.

Ahmed shares his journey, from dropping out of college to building multiple startups, and how he eventually found his calling with Calo. We discuss the challenges he faced, the lessons he learned, and his vision for the future of Calo.

Key takeaways:
- Ahmed's journey from a young tech enthusiast to a successful entrepreneur
- How Calo was launched with just a $2,000 MVP budget
- The power of invitation-only launches and viral growth in Saudi Arabia
- Calo's customer-centric approach and obsession with service
- The importance of culture and values in building a successful startup
- Ahmed's vision for Calo's future, including global expansion

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Calo's Success
00:42 Ahmed's Background and Philosophy
02:48 Early Ventures and Entrepreneurial Journey
05:06 First Business and Startup Learnings
12:07 Challenges and Realizations
17:51 Exploring New Ideas and Validating Concepts
20:10 The Birth of Calo
40:56 Proving the Business Model
41:23 The Last Bet and Cracking the Model
42:25 Launching the Food Tech Idea
43:22 Early Challenges and First Customers
44:09 Building the Team and Experimenting
45:39 Invitation-Only Launch Strategy
47:04 First Day Success and Social Media Buzz
50:47 Investor Relations and Fundraising
56:47 Age and Leadership
01:04:21 Hiring and Company Culture
01:16:56 Customer Obsession and Exceptional Service
01:23:25 Exploring LinkedIn as a Customer Acquisition Channel
01:25:25 The Saudi Launch: A Case Study in Rapid Expansion
01:28:37 Overcoming Challenges and Betting on Saudi
01:34:13 The Power of Scarcity and Viral Marketing
01:37:42 Expanding to New Markets and Dominating the Competition
01:43:20 The Drive Behind Success and Personal Motivation
01:53:58 Future Plans and Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs