Mohamed Nagaty Joins Tactful AI as Investor and Advisor to CEO, Advancing Vision for a Global Tech Ecosystem from Egypt

There’s a real buzz in Egypt’s tech scene these days, and it’s not hard to see why. News just in: Mohamed Aboulnaga Nagaty—an entrepreneur and investor many will recognise—has jumped aboard with Tactful AI, both investing in the startup and stepping onto its executive advisory team. Now, for anyone who keeps an eye on the MENA startup landscape (like us at Arageek), this move feels spot on for a region that’s itching to prove itself on the global tech stage.

Nagaty didn’t leap in blindly, either. He took his time, digging into how Tactful's platform boosted businesses he already knew well—things like operational efficiency, stronger digital sales, and, perhaps most impressively, sky-high levels of customer satisfaction. Apparently, those wins were enough to convince him. And, let's face it, that’s music to the ears of anyone rooting for homegrown MENA innovation.

Both Nagaty and Tactful’s founders seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to vision: build something global, but keep the roots tightly in Egypt and the wider Arab world, put local talent to work, and protect regional digital sovereignty. That's a tall order, mind you, but given all the chatter lately about “importing tech versus building it ourselves,” I reckon it's a necessary one.

Tactful’s journey is a tad unusual—they started life back in 2016, founded by Mohamed Elmasry and Mohamed Hassan. Then came a spell under the European telecom giant Dstny, who scooped them up in 2022. But here’s the twist: the founders eventually reclaimed their independence and the company, determined to chart their own course once again, now with an eye toward Middle Eastern and European expansion. A bit of a rollercoaster, if you ask me.

The company’s tech is no slouch, either. They’ve ploughed in over $5 million to develop what they claim is Egypt’s first homegrown AI-powered platform focused on customer experience management. These days, the Tactful system features in e-commerce, hospitality, finance, and telecoms—and, just between us, it’s giving giants like Zendesk and Intercom a right run for their money. They say their system handles all digital convos in real time, helping companies bump up revenues by as much as 35% within mere months. Not too shabby, eh?

Mohamed Elmasry—Tactful AI’s CEO—noted that Nagaty’s investment and advice will be crucial for scaling both inside and outside the region: “We believe that local innovation can compete globally when paired with strategic vision, smart investment, and a team confident in its technical capabilities.” That’s the kind of boldness I wish we saw more often.

For those curious about the nitty-gritty: Tactful’s platform lets businesses take charge of digital conversations everywhere from WhatsApp to live chat on their own websites. There’s a clever dashboard, smart routing based on which agent has what skills, plus detailed analytics so teams can keep tabs on what’s working (and what’s not). Oh, and for anyone tired of clunky support bots, their chatbots can operate in multiple languages too—a must for this region.

Nagaty himself has been open about why he’s getting involved: “Their ambition to build a comprehensive software and AI ecosystem in Egypt and the region deeply resonates with me. I’m excited to support this vision and help scale its impact across new markets and industries.” He also mentioned that local startups attracted over $10 billion in the last seven years, claiming these kinds of genuine, local tech solutions will be feeding the next wave of growth. I’m not a fan of hype-for-hype’s-sake, but that’s a pretty chunky number.

What strikes me—and it’s something I see when talking with entrepreneurs via Arageek’s community—is how this push for “built here, for here, and for the world” feels different this time around. Maybe it’s the whiff of global ambition, or maybe it’s the fact their client list already includes names like Fairmont, El Araby Group, 2B, and L’azurde, but for once, expansion doesn’t sound like a pipe dream. That said, scaling up is rarely a walk in the park, especially with international competition circling like hawks.

Still, Tactful’s got feet in both Cairo and Cambridge and is investing heavily in AI R&D. The founders aren’t mincing their words: they want to meet global standards, not just regional ones, even if that means putting in the hard yards. From my own chats with folks in the sector, I can tell you: plenty are chuffed to bits to see serious Egyptian tech getting this kind of support.

It’s early days, and as anyone who’s ever tried starting up in this region knows, nothing’s every easy—or predictable. But with hefty investment, clear ambition, and more than a little grit, Tactful AI and its new advisor are aiming for more than just a local win. Here's hoping they pull it off… even if the odds are, as ever, a bit of a faff.

For more on companies like Tactful and stories from the frontlines of the MENA startup world, we at Arageek will keep shining a light where it’s most needed.

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