We're excited to have Marc , Co-Founder and CEO of Reno, with us today. Marc's story is a fascinating one. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, he watched his father navigate through many challenges to build a successful life. This had a profound impact on him, shaping his view of what a career should be: using one's skills to solve important problems and build something meaningful.

Join us as Marc dives into the story of Reno, explaining how it all started and why laying the right foundations is crucial. He shares his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, drawn from his own experiences. Marc's journey is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Why did you choose to start a business?

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, I was inspired by my dad’s journey as I watched him overcome hardships and challenges to build a great life for us. This forever shaped my view of what a career should look like – I’ve wanted to use my expertise to solve important problems and build something meaningful. When I saw the opportunity for Reno, I took the leap and never looked back.
 

How did you start your business?

The idea was born a year ago when me and my cofounder Amr were renovating our homes in Cairo and Dubai.
When we shared our experiences, we realized that we faced the same issues – quality of contractors ‘work, timeline overruns, and liquidity. It turns out we were not alone in this – in fact, we quickly found that 80% of renovations either run over time, over budget, or never even finish. We saw the opportunity, our expertise aligned with the problem, and that is how Reno was born.

What do you wish you’d known before you started your business?

To have the patience and not underestimate the importance of setting the right foundations before expecting any tangible results. In the early lifetime of the company, there is a lot of seemingly mundane groundwork that needs to happen - many admin, recruitment, and legal processes. To do this with care and get it right is critical for long-term success – it can make or break the company later.

Did you have any support in your journey?

I have been fortunate in this regard, particularly my wife has been incredibly supportive. We had just welcomed a newborn baby before I started Reno, and she has been my anchor in this dynamic and challenging period. I often joke that I have two babies to take care of. I have also realized that the founders' community is a great source of support when it comes to expanding our network, validating the business idea, as well as learning about shortcuts and pitfalls to avoid.

What is your greatest challenge as a business owner?

Take your pick! Nothing about building a business is easy. I would however say that the most challenging aspect is having to constantly jump between roles - from designer, to PRO, to the CEO. Another big thing is having to ruthlessly prioritize and say “no”, because what you say no to is what defines you.

What advice would you give to your past self before opening your own business?

Embrace ambiguity because you’ll be facing a lot of it. Don’t be discouraged if you are not getting the results you were expecting, as quickly as you had hoped. Budget time for infrastructure work. Prioritize what matters, focus on the process, be consistent every day and results will come eventually.

Reflecting on your path to entrepreneurship, what key piece of advice would you offer to aspiring founders?

Let go of your beliefs and don’t fall in love with your original idea, it is bound to evolve over time. Ideas don’t matter, opinions don’t matter - data does. Build quickly, get early feedback, and don’t be afraid to pivot if the market moves you in another direction.