ORKA Solutions - Software Development Agency
Khaled co-founded ORKA Solutions in Egypt, a full-service software development agency that grew to 18 developers and served 15 clients. The company delivered projects across e-commerce, ERP systems, and print-on-demand platforms using a multi-stack approach including React, .NET, Odoo, and Shopify. Khaled created a comprehensive developer training program focused on stack-agnostic fundamentals. The venture ran simultaneously with his CanterVR CTO role, requiring 20-hour days. Despite breaking even financially, the experience provided invaluable learning in team building, client management, and running a software business.
Problem Solved
Egyptian businesses needed affordable, quality software development but faced a gap between expensive international agencies and immature local options
- •Architected solutions across multiple technology stacks (React, .NET, Odoo, Shopify, React Native)
- •Built and led team of 18 developers with varying experience levels
- •Created developer onboarding and training program focused on stack-agnostic fundamentals
- •Managed client relationships and project delivery for 15 clients
- •Handled technical decision-making and architecture reviews
- •Ran operations parallel to CanterVR CTO role (20-hour days)
- ✓Built and led team of 18 developers across multiple technology stacks
- ✓Served 15 clients across e-commerce, ERP, and print-on-demand verticals
- ✓Delivered first fresh meat e-commerce in Egypt (la7ma.com)
- ✓Built full ERP system for hypermarket chain with 7-8 branches (Khan AlHussien)
- ✓Created comprehensive print-on-demand platform with mobile, web, and desktop apps (InstaPrint)
- ✓Developed manufacturing ERP for wood factory including HR, accounting, and supply chain (KM Woods)
- ✓Created developer training program enabling rapid stack-switching
Scale
- • 18 developers at peak team size
- • 15 clients served over 3 years
- • 5 major projects delivered
Team
- • 18 developers trained on stack-agnostic fundamentals
- • Multi-stack team capability (React, .NET, Odoo, Shopify, React Native)
Technology Stack
Challenge
Egyptian market technology immaturity - clients required extensive education before development could begin
Solution
Invested heavily in client education and documentation, though this consumed resources better spent on development
Impact
Delivered quality solutions but at cost of profitability due to education overhead
Challenge
Running software agency simultaneously with CanterVR CTO role
Solution
Maintained 20-hour work days, optimized processes, delegated effectively to growing team
Impact
Successfully operated both ventures though at significant personal cost
Challenge
Egyptian developers had talent but lacked professional training for stack-switching
Solution
Created comprehensive onboarding program focused on fundamentals over frameworks, enabling developers to treat tech stacks as library documentation
Impact
Built team capable of delivering across React, .NET, Odoo, and Shopify
Situation
After returning to Egypt, Khaled saw an opportunity to build a software development agency that could serve Egyptian businesses with quality software. The market had a gap between expensive international agencies and unreliable local options. With his technical leadership experience and a co-founder (Shehab) handling operations, he set out to build something meaningful.
Task
Build a full-service software house that could deliver across multiple technology stacks, serve diverse industries, and train Egyptian developers to professional standards - all while maintaining his CTO role at CanterVR.
Action
Khaled recruited developers and created a training program focused on stack-agnostic fundamentals rather than framework-specific knowledge. This enabled the team to switch between React, .NET, Odoo, and Shopify based on client needs. Major projects included building Egypt's first fresh meat e-commerce (la7ma.com), a full ERP for a hypermarket chain that was previously paper-based, and a comprehensive print-on-demand platform. Every day involved 20 hours of work split between ORKA and CanterVR, with client meetings, code reviews, architecture decisions, and team management.
Result
Over 3 years, ORKA Solutions grew to 18 developers and served 15 clients. While financially break-even, the venture provided invaluable experience in team building, client management, and multi-stack delivery. The decision to close came from recognizing that the Egyptian market's technology immaturity meant spending more time educating clients than building software - not the work Khaled wanted at this life stage.
Technical
- • Multi-stack architecture and delivery
- • ERP system design and implementation
- • E-commerce platform development
- • Print-on-demand system architecture
- • Developer training program design
Soft Skills
- • Building and managing 18-person development team
- • Client management and education
- • Business operations with co-founder
- • Balancing multiple leadership roles
Key Insights
- 💡 Market maturity matters as much as technical capability
- 💡 Developer training on fundamentals enables stack flexibility
- 💡 Client education burden can exceed development work in immature markets
- 💡 Running parallel ventures requires extraordinary work capacity