This told essay is based on a conversation with Mahmoud Ashraf Mahmoud Mohamed. Mahmoud Ashraf Mahmoud Mohamed, known as Comey A, is the 22-year-old founder. He is a final year student at Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation. in Kuala Lumpur. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified his work history and educational background.
I started working for a UK company developing software solutions in 2023 while pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity in Malaysia.
When OpenAI dropped AI, I was able to incorporate it into any software I created. We started using AI to automate some of our jobs. At one point, I had a complete AI system with agents automating four clients at once.
This had so many possibilities. I got excited about it and decided to quit my job and work full time at a startup focused on AI agents, launching Genta AI in November 2024.
We expanded our team very quickly and hired several senior people with over 10 years of experience in software development.
Building a startup in school can be lonely
I worked all through my school days, but I was surprised at how many things I had to do when starting my own business. After starting Genta, I hardly had time to go to school. I usually have several meetings a day.
Everyone around me has told me to slow down and focus on getting my degree, but I just can’t do it. I always put Genta first.
I’m worried about my final year. We are expanding rapidly and will only get busier. Sometimes I think about dropping out, but I don’t want to do that.
Sometimes it’s a little sad that I can’t enjoy my school life to the fullest. At this age, you give up on a lot of fun things to do, like social life and building friendships in college.
I rarely participate in campus events, student clubs, activities, or social gatherings. Over time, this created distance between me and typical college life.
I feel lonely. Everyone around you lives a completely different life. That’s the hardest part.
My day as a student founder
I start my day around 8 a.m. and check email, Slack, and work updates. Then I head to campus and attend classes mostly for attendance. I usually work during lectures.
I try not to schedule phone calls during class hours, but my work often overlaps. Sometimes you may have to drop out of class or skip classes altogether.
After school, I move to a co-working space or cafe and continue working or answering phone calls until around 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
When I get home, I start working on my US-based account from 1am to 2am due to the time difference. I usually use my weekends to focus on Genta’s inner growth.
Sometimes on Sundays, I try to distance myself for a few hours by doing anything that isn’t work or university related, like riding my bike outside of town, swimming, or catching up with friends and family.
It wasn’t easy to live like this for about a year, but I gradually got used to it and started to love the rhythm.
Age does not prevent you from becoming a founder
I do not agree that age is a barrier to starting a business. But that can be a problem, especially if you’re working with large clients.
There are many clients for whom I could have done so much, but the main reason we didn’t move on was because I was young and the company was still new.
Technology, especially AI, is a very new technology. We need people who can move, learn and adapt quickly, which is often the case with younger generations.
In fact, many clients try to take advantage of me. They say, “He’s young, he doesn’t have a lot of money,” and then try to get more work for free or lower the price.
It’s rude to do that just because of age. I focus on getting ROI and trying to prove myself and earn that respect through my work. That way, they will not only respect you, but also want to work with you.
One of the most difficult things for me is being a manager. This is a new experience, but I always try to be as nice and calm as possible with my team. I hate being micromanaged or bossy, but I expect a lot from my team of 16 people across the country.
The more experience I gain, the more I realize that I still have a lot to work on.
College students should not wait until something happens or until they reach a certain level to start. Do it now, learn later. Just try it and you’ll understand. You don’t need to know everything.
Do you have a story to share as a young AI founder? Contact this reporter at: cmlee@insider.com Or send a signal at @cmlee.81.
