Ep#16: The Founder’s Blueprint: Building Startups in 2025 with Majd Alaily

In this episode, we talk to Majd Alaily, founder of Ruya Advisory, a consultancy that helps startups turn visionary ideas into thriving businesses. With 15+ years of experience in digital innovation, strategy, and product development, Majd shares valuable insights on navigating the startup journey.

We talk about building the right tech stack, choosing the right platform, and standing out in a crowded market. Majd also offers a sneak peek into his upcoming online course, BuildOS, launching in April. This episode is filled with actionable advice for founders looking to build, grow, and stand out in the competitive startup landscape.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on how to succeed in today’s world!

Majd Alaily

Majd is a seasoned digital innovator with over 15 years of experience in consultancy, startups, and strategic thinking. He specializes in helping startups thrive through ideation, building, growth, and fundraising strategies. As an advisor, Majd has supported 20+ ventures in launching, scaling, and securing funding. He’s a founder who grew a company to 970k monthly active users in just two years with 100% organic growth. Majd’s background includes leading business development and digital consulting at Google for portfolios worth $50M-$100M ARR. He’s conducted over 100 strategy and go-to-market workshops with top global brands and brings innovation expertise from prestigious programs like Stanford d.school and IDEO.U.

Ruya Advisory

Ruya Advisory is a forward-thinking startup consultancy focused on turning visionary ideas into successful businesses. Derived from the Arabic word for 'vision,' Ruya embodies foresight and aspiration. Going beyond traditional consulting, the firm offers strategic guidance to help startups navigate the journey from concept to execution. With a commitment to fostering innovation and growth, Ruya Advisory empowers entrepreneurs to shape the future, turning groundbreaking ideas into flourishing ventures.

Show Notes

Music Credit: "Neptuno" - Phondupe (Album: Onykia)

Summary

In this episode of Startups Decoded, host Andy Walsh speaks with Mash Alaily about his journey from medicine to the startup world. They discuss the importance of learning from failure, the mindset required for resilience in entrepreneurship, and the role of RUYA Advisory in guiding startups. The conversation also covers the evolving landscape of product development, the impact of automation and agents, and the significance of personal engagement in sales strategies. Finally, they introduce Build OS, a new initiative aimed at helping founders validate their ideas quickly and effectively.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Startups and Global Perspectives

01:27 The Journey from Medicine to Startups

04:08 The Shift in Education and Career Paths

06:36 Embracing Failure as a Learning Tool

10:48 Understanding Blind Spots in Entrepreneurship

13:08 Mindset and Emotional Resilience in Founding

15:46 The Birth of RUYA Advisory

18:51 Advisory Services for Founders

21:22 Discovery and Alignment in Advisory Relationships

22:37 Disruption in Startup Building

25:34 Navigating Go-to-Market Strategies

28:56 The Future of Fundraising and Exits

31:05 Choosing the Right Tech Stack

34:13 The Role of Automation and Agents

42:59 Introducing Build OS: A New Approach to Validation