Tactful AI, co-founded and led by Mohamed El Masry (CEO) and Mohammad Hassan Fouad (CTO), has been recognized among the Top 3 finalists in the AI Excellence & Deeptech Award category at Egypt’s Entrepreneur Awards (EEA) 2025 — a celebration of innovation, impact, and leadership shaping the country’s technology ecosystem.
This category honours ventures at the frontier of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, spotlighting companies that demonstrate true innovation in AI, machine learning, data science, robotics, cybersecurity, and deep tech as core parts of their business.
The recognition marks a milestone for Egypt’s growing AI landscape and reinforces the country’s position as a regional hub for digital innovation.
About the AI Excellence & Deeptech Category
The AI Excellence & Deeptech Award recognizes businesses pushing the boundaries of technological innovation, building scalable, globally competitive solutions that harness AI and deep technologies to solve real-world problems.
It celebrates leaders who bridge science and business to drive transformation in Egypt and beyond.
The Jury Panel
The award was evaluated by an esteemed jury of industry leaders who bring decades of combined experience in technology, investment, and data science:
Wael Amin
Partner at Sawari Ventures. A pioneer of Egypt’s tech ecosystem, Wael co-founded ITWorx and helped grow it into one of the most influential IT companies in the Middle East, creating over 5,000 jobs and mentoring more than 200 entrepreneurs.
Hossam Seifeldin
Executive Vice President & CEO of Capgemini Egypt. With over 27 years in technology and services, Hossam has held senior leadership roles at IBM and now leads Capgemini’s Egypt Delivery Center, driving digital transformation across EMEA.
Basma Rady
Chief Data Scientist at Beltone Holding and Managing Director at Robin. A leading expert in data science and analytics, driving innovation at the intersection of AI, finance, and digital intelligence.
Together, the panel represents the depth of experience and perspective driving Egypt’s AI and startup ecosystem forward.
About Mohamed Elmasry
As Co-founder and CEO of Tactful AI, Mohamed Elmasry has been a driving force in redefining how businesses across MENA adopt and mature in AI.
Under his leadership, Tactful developed an AI-powered, end-to-end CX platform that helps enterprises bridge the gap between their current operations and a fully AI-ready future.
From its roots in Egypt to regional expansion and global recognition, Tactful AI has enabled leading brands to engage customers intelligently, analyse millions of interactions, and automate with precision, all built by local talent, for local and global impact.
“When we started Tactful, we wanted to prove that world-class AI doesn’t have to come from Silicon Valley, it can come from Cairo. Technology means nothing without people, without solving real problems, helping businesses grow, and enabling teams to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Egypt’s innovation scene is evolving fast; we’re proud to be part of that story. This is just the beginning!”
About Mohammed Hassan Fouad
Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Tactful AI, Mohammad Hassan Fouad stands behind the architecture and innovation that power one of the region’s most advanced AI-driven customer experience platforms.
With years of experience in software design and large-scale enterprise development, he has led the creation of cloud-based systems trusted by Fortune 100 clients—balancing performance, reliability, and security at every layer.
Throughout his career, Fouad has worn many hats—engineer, team leader, and startup builder—playing a vital role in guiding young companies from bootstrap stages to market success. His entrepreneurial mindset and technical mastery have been central to Tactful’s growth and its ability to compete globally.
“At first, I was focused on building systems. Over time, I learned it’s really about empowering people, enabling deeper connections, and guiding experiences. I’m grateful for the EE Award nomination for AI Excellence — not just as recognition, but as a reminder of how much Egypt’s innovation scene has grown — and how much potential the next generation holds.”
Inside the Jury Room: What Drives Egypt’s AI & Deeptech Leaders at EEA 2025
As Egypt’s technology ecosystem continues to accelerate, the Egypt’s Entrepreneur Awards (EEA) brings together visionary leaders and innovators to celebrate excellence, impact, and innovation across industries.
Among the jury for this year’s AI Excellence & Deeptech Award are two of the country’s most respected voices in technology and data science — Basma Rady, Chief Data Scientist at Beltone Holding & Managing Director at Robin, and Hossam Seifeldin, Executive Vice President & CEO of Capgemini Egypt.
Both jurors shared their personal motivations and perspectives on what makes this initiative — and Egypt’s AI community — truly special.
What Makes an AI Business Award-Winning?
According to Basma, it all comes down to measurable impact:
“What truly separates a good business from an award-winning one, especially in AI and Deeptech, is whether it’s able to drive real impact. Delivering tangible value to clients through technology is what makes a business exceptional.” Basma Rady
What Entrepreneurs Should Watch Out For
Hossam offered a word of advice for AI founders and innovators navigating rapid change:
“Technology evolves at incredible speed, so it’s crucial to keep up. The use case must solve a real problem using technology that’s relevant and up to date. What was attractive a year ago might no longer be today — the disruption often starts inside the technology itself, not just in the business.” Hossam Seifeldin
Why This Recognition Matters
This year’s EEA spotlighted AI and deep technology as key national focus areas, aligning with Egypt’s digital transformation agenda and its push to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem.
Tactful’s recognition highlights how locally built AI solutions are competing on a global stage, offering world-class technology rooted in regional understanding.
The jury recognized us for pioneering AI-powered CX technology that’s empowering enterprises to transform customer experiences and make data-driven decisions at scale — an achievement that reflects both vision and execution.
Tactful’s Broader Impact
Tactful represents a new generation of Egyptian startups: global in quality, regional in relevance.
By combining AI, automation, and data analytics, Tactful helps organizations evolve their customer operations step by step — creating measurable growth, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Its success embodies what Egypt’s tech ecosystem stands for: local innovation with global potential.
About Egypt’s Entrepreneur Awards (EEA)
EEA is Egypt’s premier platform celebrating visionary founders, industry pioneers, and changemakers who are reshaping the country’s business landscape.
Now in its 4th edition, EEA brings together the brightest minds across diverse sectors — from fintech and sustainability to AI and deep tech — under the theme “Recognizing Excellence, Inspiring the Future.”
About Tactful AI
Tactful AI is an AI-powered, end-to-end customer experience platform helping businesses bridge the gap between operational reality and the AI-powered future.
Built by local talent and trusted by enterprises across MENA and Europe, Tactful empowers companies to engage customers across all channels, analyze every conversation, and automate intelligently — all through a unified platform.
