Startups Decoded 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 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 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