Two decades ago, I wrote about Samih Toukan and Sami Khoury and their achievements through Maktoob and Souq.com, which were sold for hundreds of millions of dollars. My intention was not to glorify these young men, but rather to highlight the lessons learned from their approach and work. Today, I would like to offer some lessons gleaned from the journey of Amjad Masad, founder of Replit, a company valued at approximately $9 billion. He is considered one of the world's most prominent entrepreneurs and a globally influential figure in the artificial intelligence and software sector. In 2026, Amjad received the King Abdullah II Medal of Excellence in recognition of his achievements.

 

Who is Amjad Masad? Amjad Fawzi Masad was born in Jordan in 1993. He is the son of civil engineer Fawzi Masad, the former head of the Jordanian Engineers Association. Amjad's passion for programming was evident from a young age. He studied at Princess Sumaya University for Technology before moving to the United States, where he briefly attended the University of Waterloo. However, he didn't complete his degree, choosing instead to dedicate himself to building his startup.

 

How did the story begin? The idea was simple yet ambitious, starting with a question that I don't believe is simple at all, but rather quite significant and complex: Why does programming remain the preserve of professional programmers? He observed that setting up a programming environment and running code presents a significant obstacle for many beginners. Therefore, he and his partners, Haya Odeh (a Jordanian software engineer and co-founder, who is also Amjad Masad's wife) and Fares Masad (Amjad's brother and another of the company's early founders), decided to create a platform that would allow anyone to write and run programs directly from a web browser without the need to install complex software.

 

And so, Replit was born, initially as a platform targeting students and programmers, later evolving into a comprehensive AI-powered platform. Users can describe their desired application in natural language, while AI handles writing a large portion of the code. How did Ripplet transform from a small company into a global corporation valued at $9 billion, with some estimates suggesting a potential $20 billion valuation if it goes public, bringing his net worth to nearly $4 billion, and even more when his wife's stake is included? His journey can be divided into five key stages:

 

1. Early Passion: He didn't start of a desire to found a company or because he lacked employment opportunities, but rather out of a love for programming and problem-solving. The lesson here is that great companies often begin with genuine passion, not a quest for quick riches.

 

2. Choosing a Global Problem: He didn't choose a local or limited problem, but rather one faced by millions of programmers worldwide (the difficulty of learning to code, the complexity of development environments, and the need for online collaboration). The lesson here is: the more global the problem, the larger the market.

 

3. Continuous Development: Ripplet didn't remain just a code editor; it continuously evolved through cloud computing, team collaboration, artificial intelligence, and transforming ideas into applications. The lesson learned is that success doesn't come from the idea alone, but from its continuous development. As economist and global competitiveness icon Michael Porter said, you have to work 24 hours a day to stay relevant in the market, or you'll be shut out.

 

4. Capitalizing on the AI wave: The emergence of large language models wasn't seen as a threat, but rather as an opportunity for success. The company became one of the first platforms to allow building applications using natural language. The lesson here is: When technology changes, don't defend the old model; reinvent yourself.

 

5. Thinking globally from the start: The Jordanian market wasn't the target; the product was designed for the world from day one. Today, millions of developers and students in dozens of countries use the software. The lesson: The internet has opened the world to innovators, so don't confine yourself and your dreams to small geographical boundaries.

 

The story can be summarized as follows: Skill is more important than a degree alone. Amjad learned programming early, chose a real problem as the cornerstone for founding Replit, built the product before seeking funding and attracting investors, and adapted to the new technology of artificial intelligence. His global mindset from the beginning enabled him to reach a valuation of billions of dollars.

 

I believe Amjad Masad's journey with Replit offers five important messages for policymakers as well as entrepreneurs: First, human capital is more important than natural resources. His success wasn't based on oil or minerals, but on knowledge, software, and a supportive institutional environment. Second, universities should be platforms for innovation. Their role isn't limited to awarding degrees, but extends to producing founders of global companies. University incubators are essential, and teaching methods that keep pace with the times, with its opportunities and challenges, are vital for creating an entrepreneurial society. Third, the digital economy allows Jordanian companies to access global markets without the geopolitical obstacles faced by goods-based industries and economies of scale. A small software company can serve millions of users without needing huge factories or large local markets. Fourth, government investment in artificial intelligence is essential. New technologies aren't a threat, but an opportunity to build high-value-added companies. Fifth, a global mindset is crucial from the outset. Many startups begin by asking, "How do I sell in Jordan?" Amjad Masad, on the other hand, practically began by asking: "How do I build a product that the whole world needs?" This is one of the most important reasons for his success.

 

The most important economic lesson: The significance of Amjad Masad's story (from a purely economic perspective) lies not in the fact that his company reached a high valuation, but rather in the fact that it embodies the potential inherent in the knowledge economy, where value is created more from ideas, software, and innovation than from physical assets. This is an important message for Jordan: Investing in education, digital skills, research and development, and entrepreneurship are all factors that can generate companies.

 

 

The writer is a Former Jordanian Minister of State for Economic Affairs.