Ahmed Hamdan: Scaling a Global Communication Platform from Riyadh with Unifonic

In Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Ahmed Hamdan and his brother Hassan Hamdan embarked on a mission that would transform business communication across the Middle East and beyond. Their startup, Unifonic, launched in 2006, has evolved from a small SMS reseller into a cloud communication powerhouse with a reach spanning 200 countries. Today, Unifonic is a vital partner for over 5,000 businesses, including Careem, Domino’s Pizza, and Jarir Bookstore, helping them connect with their customers through cutting-edge communication technology.

But Unifonic’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Ahmed’s story is one of resilience, strategic scaling, and a customer-centric mindset—qualities that every founder can learn from as they navigate their own entrepreneurial paths.

The Leap: Identifying an Opportunity in Cloud Communication

Ahmed’s journey began with a simple observation: businesses needed better tools to connect with their customers. With a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering and a Master’s in Computer Science from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Ahmed saw the potential for a cloud communication platform that could integrate text, voice, and digital messaging into one seamless solution. Alongside Hassan, he co-founded Unifonic with a vision to transform how companies engage with their audiences.

Lesson for Founders: Start by solving a real problem. Unifonic’s initial focus on SMS was based on a tangible need in the market. By addressing an existing gap, they were able to establish a foothold before expanding into more complex communication services. Focus on a specific problem you can solve well before branching out.

Navigating Early Challenges: Building Trust and Adapting to Market Needs

Like any startup, Unifonic faced significant challenges in its early days. Saudi Arabia’s tech ecosystem was still developing, and the concept of cloud-based communication tools was new to many businesses. Establishing credibility and winning over early clients required patience, resilience, and a commitment to delivering consistent value.

Scaling quickly wasn’t the goal—building a solid foundation was. Ahmed focused on earning the trust of key clients by offering reliability, transparent pricing, and responsive customer support. This approach helped Unifonic gain momentum and build a reputation as a dependable partner for businesses looking to scale their communication efforts.

Lesson for Founders: Building trust is key to scaling. Especially in emerging markets, where new technologies can face skepticism, showing early clients that you can deliver on your promises is crucial. Make trust-building a part of your strategy by offering transparency and over-delivering on customer expectations.

Strategic Growth: Leveraging Funding for Expansion

In 2018, Unifonic secured $21 million in its first funding round, backed by Endeavor Catalyst, Raed Ventures, STV, Riyad TAQNIA Fund (RTF), and Elm. This funding allowed Unifonic to invest in infrastructure, expand its offerings, and extend its footprint across seven offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Sudan.

Ahmed used the funding strategically, focusing on scalable technology that could support Unifonic’s growing client base and new communication channels like voice, email, and social media integration. By building out their API platform and streamlining operations, Unifonic ensured that it could support large enterprises and startups alike.

Lesson for Founders: Use funding to fuel strategic growth, not just immediate needs. Focus on building scalable technology and infrastructure that can support your vision for the long term. Every dollar should contribute to a stronger foundation and prepare your business for future challenges.

Customer-Centric Innovation: Building a Platform That Lasts

Unifonic’s success has been driven by a deep commitment to customer-centric innovation. Ahmed and his team designed their platform to be intuitive and accessible, allowing companies of all sizes to integrate Unifonic’s services into their own apps and platforms. This focus on ease-of-use has been a critical differentiator in a competitive market.

Unifonic’s emphasis on continuous improvement—taking customer feedback and using it to refine their API and service offerings—has kept the company ahead of the curve. Ahmed’s leadership in this area has helped Unifonic become a preferred partner for companies across industries like e-commerce, logistics, and retail.

Lesson for Founders: Prioritize your customers’ needs and adapt your offerings based on their feedback. The best products are those that evolve with their users. Building a user-friendly platform will ensure that your customers stick around and see you as a partner in their success.

Resilience in Leadership: Building a Team That Shares the Vision

A major part of Unifonic’s growth has been the culture Ahmed cultivated within the company. With a team of 101-250 employees, he emphasizes shared vision and values, ensuring that each team member understands the impact of their work on clients’ success. This focus on a cohesive company culture has helped Unifonic navigate challenges and stay aligned with its mission, even as it expanded into new markets.

Lesson for Founders: Your team is your most important asset. Invest time in building a culture that reflects your company’s values and aligns with your mission. A strong, motivated team is essential for overcoming obstacles and achieving sustainable growth.

Creating a Legacy: Empowering Global Communication from Riyadh

Today, Unifonic is more than a cloud communication platform—it’s a success story that demonstrates the potential of Saudi Arabia’s tech ecosystem. Ahmed Hamdan’s journey shows that with resilience, strategic use of resources, and a commitment to solving real customer problems, a startup can grow from a local player to a global leader.

Ahmed’s story is packed with lessons for founders looking to make their mark. Focus on solving real problems, build trust with early adopters, invest strategically in growth, and never lose sight of the customer. Through Unifonic, Ahmed has not only transformed business communication but has also paved the way for a new generation of Saudi tech entrepreneurs.

Takeaway for Aspiring Founders: The path to success is rarely linear, but with vision, resilience, and a customer-first approach, you can build a company that not only thrives but makes a lasting impact on the world.