From Iran to Global Unicorns: A Journey from Packaging to Technology with Saeed Ahmed

Meet Saeed Ahmed, CEO and Founder of Plug n Play, the largest innovation platform in the world, with 34 unicorns under its belt and a passion for investing in startups that have changed the game.

1. Saeed Ahmed is the CEO and founder of Plug and Play, the world's largest innovation platform with 34 unicorns.
2. He has invested in over 1000 companies, including PayPal, Google, Honey, Dropbox, Fiscalnote, and Rappi.
3. Ahmed is originally from Iran but had to leave due to the revolution in 1979, which nationalized his family's industries and led to a significant loss for the family.
4. He started his first company, Alps American Liquid Packaging, in Palo Alto near Stanford University as a means of survival and built it into a large business with 2000 employees and $600 million in
5. Plug and Play began in 2008 when Ahmed joined the organization as a funding manager to help startups raise money and get funding.
6. Ahmed's investment strategy focuses on people, passion for the product, and solving big problems.
7. He looks for companies that have the potential to become billion-dollar businesses and has learned from failures as well as successes.
8. Key factors in finding good companies include the team, idea, technology, execution, and business model.
9. Ahmed's experience as an immigrant has contributed to his success in Silicon Valley, where many startups have immigrant entrepreneurs.
10. Plug and Play helps startups fail faster by connecting them with other entrepreneurs who have experienced similar failures, providing valuable insights and lessons learned.
11. Ahmed's investment approach has evolved over time to focus on building a strong team and creating camaraderie and shared ownership.
12. He values the input of co-founders Doug Leone at Sequoia and Tim Draper in his investments, including missing out on early funding for Airbnb due to liability concerns.
13. Ahmed has learned that money is an essential metric of success but also enjoys making money and reinvesting it in more startups and growth opportunities.
14. He measures success not only by financial metrics but also by the number of jobs created, entrepreneurs helped, and positive impact on society.
15. Plug and Play's name reflects Ahmed's desire to create a playground for innovation and collaboration.
16. Ahmed has made some successful investments but has also missed out on others, such as his missed opportunity with Airbnb.
17. He did not initially feel comfortable investing other people's money but has since changed his mind and created a fund to invest in more startups.
18. Plug and Play's success is due to its focus on providing value to entrepreneurs, helping them raise money, and connecting them with the right investors and partners.
19. Ahmed believes that starting a startup is incredibly hard, but working in a team of 2-3 people increases the chances of success.
20. He values lessons learned from failures as much as successes and uses this knowledge to help startups avoid common pitfalls.
21. Plug and Play's approach to investing is based on creating long-term relationships with entrepreneurs, providing ongoing support, and sharing valuable insights.
22. Ahmed has a passion for innovation and enjoys being part of the startup ecosystem.
23. He believes that making money is an essential aspect of success but should not be the sole focus of entrepreneurship.
24. Plug and Play's success is due to its ability to identify and support promising startups, connect them with valuable resources, and help them grow into successful businesses.

Source: EO via YouTube

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