Ahmad Al-Zaini is CEO of Foodics, the retail and food tech startup based in Saudi Arabia, which he co-founded in 2014.
The company supports the food and beverage industry with technology that enhances sales and operations. Foodics is one of only three companies to receive a financial technology (fintech) license from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), allowing it to fast track its product development.
Al-Zaini was selected as a high-impact entrepreneur by Endeavor Global in 2018 and also received the Forbes award for Entrepreneurs Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Future in 2015.
Before Foodics, he co-founded his first startup, Alwans, in February 2010. The business develops apps as well as investment opportunities for other startups.
In 2012, Al-Zaini graduated in electrical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia.
He joined an executive program of entrepreneurship/entrepreneurial studies at Harvard Business school in 2019.
In 2020, Al-Zaini completed a short program on organizational leadership from THNK School of Creative Leadership.
He has been a member of the delivery applications committee of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce since October 2020.
Al-Zaini told Arab News that his long-term goal is to allow restaurateurs to focus on their product, while he develops tools, data and insights to help them make the right decisions.
“Being a restaurant owner, you need to focus on your food quality and your speed of service. We enlighten them about the weaknesses of their business and the areas of focus to develop and expand,” he added.
