The Humans Behind Wayn

Ryad Sahraoui — Founder & CEO

Wayn didn’t begin with a pitch deck. It began with a truth I could no longer ignore.

For years, I worked across strategy, digital transformation, and sustainability — advising leaders across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. But while helping organisations navigate a fast-changing digital world, I noticed something shifting in my own life.

Technology — the force reshaping industries — was also reshaping me.
My focus. My time. My presence with my children.
The more connected everything became, the more disconnected daily life started to feel.

As a father of two, that realisation hit hard.
It wasn’t theoretical anymore. It was personal.

If this is what technology is doing to us, what future is it shaping for our children?

Wayn began as my attempt to answer that question — not as a strategist, but as a parent.

A quiet moment in the mountains with the kids — no screens, no noise, just the three of us. This is where I first realised how different life feels when nothing pulls our attention away.

Ahmed Maawy — CTO

My first conversation with Ryad wasn’t about devices.

It was about people — how technology could uplift communities across the Global South. But within minutes, we found ourselves circling a much deeper issue:

What would technology look like if it were designed to support human wellbeing, not compete with it?

At Wayn, I bring 20+ years of experience building complex technologies across the US, Qatar, and Africa. My work with Ushahidi, EveryLayer, BRCK, and AJ+ gave me the rare ability to turn a mission into a functional, scalable technological foundation.

Taken after a working session — we then closed our laptops and ended the day soaking in a natural hot spring.


Dr. Izzatullah Mustafa — Sustainability Advisor

I’ve spent most of my career at the intersection of climate finance, carbon markets, and real-world execution — where good intentions don’t matter unless they translate into measurable outcomes.

Over the years, I’ve worked across policy, advisory, and investment structures supporting decarbonization and nature-based solutions, often in complex markets where credibility is fragile and “sustainability” can quickly become a slogan. That experience shaped a simple belief: if we want sustainability to be taken seriously, it has to be built on integrity, high-quality data, and practical systems that people can actually implement.

My journey to Wayn feels less like a new appointment and more like coming home to the kind of mission I’ve been looking for. I’ve known Ryad Shahroui for years — he’s not just a founder I respect; I consider him a brother. What drew me to Wayn is the same thing that has consistently drawn me to the best builders: clarity of purpose, speed of execution, and the courage to do it properly even when the shortcut is tempting.

As Sustainability Advisor, my role is to help Wayn strengthen its sustainability strategy and translate it into concrete action — from credible frameworks and governance, to measurement and reporting, to partnerships that create real impact. I’m here to help ensure that what Wayn builds is not just “green by design,” but resilient, investable, and trusted.

A moment from one of our meetings in Kuala Lumpur — long conversations about values, responsibility, and the kind of future we want to help shape.

Be part of what comes next

We’re beginning the work, but this change won’t happen alone.

Join the waiting list to follow the journey from the inside — with exclusive content, early updates, and priority access to the first release of our software and device.

If you’re interested in supporting, contributing, or exploring investment opportunities, reach us at connect@wayn.co.