Amjad Masad is the co-founder and CEO of Replit, a $9 billion AI company.
Born in Jordan to a Palestinian family displaced during the Nakba, he taught himself to code on his father's first computer - and refused to hide his identity on the way up.
In this episode, he breaks down what speaking up cost him, how he built Replit to a $9B valuation, and his advice for Muslim founders looking to build.
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Join Launchpad: https://founderlaunchpad.io/
The online startup school for working professionals.
Go from idea to paying customers in six weeks.
Start Date: 2nd Aug.
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Follow Amjad:
https://x.com/amasad
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amjadmasad/
https://replit.com/
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0:00 - Introduction
2:13 - His Grandfather's Life in Palestine Before the Nakba
5:31 - His Father Buying the Neighbourhood's First Computer
7:22 - Competitive Swimming, Counter-Strike & the Making of a Builder
9:20 - Why He Refuses to Hide His Palestinian Identity
12:02 - October 7th: Why He Couldn't Stay Silent
14:30 - Cancelled: Silent Group Chats, Empty Calendar, Dead Deals
17:14 - Using His Influence for Palestine
19:22 - His Advice for Muslim Builders Navigating Their Morals
21:40 - Clashing With Silicon Valley's Most Powerful VCs
23:36 - The Quran Verse That Changed How He Sees Struggle
25:56 - The Role Models He Admires
27:54 - Paul Graham Advice He Thinks About Every Day
29:35 - The Legacy He Wants to Leave in 20 Years
32:14 - Meeting Mamdani & Breaking the Rules of American Politics
35:13 - Internet Cafes in Jordan to Inventing Replit
41:13 - Turning Down $1 Billion While His Mother Fought Cancer
44:18 - $2M to $1B ARR: Inside Replit's Explosive 3 Years
51:30 - There's No Playbook: How to Build in 2026
