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/
Digital Wildcatters brings the energy community together through events, cutting-edge content, and powerful tools. Join our online community at collide.io. Engage with experts, level up your career, and ask Collide AI your toughest technical questions.
Click here to watch a video of this episode.Click here to view the episode transcript.
00:00 - Intro
01:52 - What is Hybrid Technology
06:07 - Hybrid vs. Other Digital Twin Solutions
11:52 - Data Accuracy vs. Reality
19:15 - Common Use Cases for Hybrid Solutions
21:30 - The Journey of Clarity
22:05 - Product Development Challenges
25:00 - Pivoting to Maintenance Strategies
27:15 - My First Startup Experience
29:16 - Team Size and Structure
32:20 - Techstars Experience
37:09 - Lessons for Starting a Business Today
37:50 - Fundraising During COVID-19
42:18 - Overcoming Hard Times in Business
44:30 - Defining Moments for Founders
47:00 - Venture Capitalists and Fundraising
48:40 - Importance of Revenue and Profitability
53:40 - Founder-Led Sales Strategies
https://www.instagram.com/digitalwildcatters
https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalwildcatters
https://www.facebook.com/digitalwildcatters
https://twitter.com/DWildcatters
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
