Businesses that have outgrown spreadsheets
Your business runs on spreadsheets, chat threads and memory. I build the custom system that fits how you actually work, so you stop bending your business around software that doesn't.
Software product engineering consultant
Your idea, built from 0 to 1. And beyond.
I help business owners, founders and software teams turn an idea or a business need into a working product, without hiring a whole company to do it.
Senior engineer at Foodics, a leading restaurant management platform in the region.
The path
- 0IdeaYou are here
- Consult90 min · $100
- Explore1–2 weeks · from $900
- Build2–6 months · from $5K
- 1LiveA product people use
Who I work with
Founders with an idea
You have an idea and a budget that is not a company's. I help you decide what to build first, write it down precisely, and get it built.
Software houses and agencies
You have a client or a new product and need a senior engineer to set direction, shape the scope, and lead until it ships.
Three ways to work together
Quick consultation
You getAn online meeting, up to 90 minutes
- Time
- Up to 90 minutes
- Cost
- $100
- Payment
- Before we talk
Credited toward Product exploration if you book within 14 days.
Request a callProduct exploration
You getAn MVP product requirements document (PRD)
- Time
- 1–2 weeks after we agree
- Cost
- From $900, typically up to $1,800
- Payment
- 50% to start, the rest with the PRD
Also makes your build price firm.
Request a callProduct development
You getA working MVP
- Time
- 2 to 6 months
- Cost
- $5K–25K
- Payment
- By milestones, first payment $2K–5K
Scoped by the PRD from exploration.
Request a callProduct development, sized to your scope
Pick the size closest to your product. The final price is fixed after Product exploration.
Lean
One core user flow on one platform. The smallest thing that tests the idea.
- Time
- About 2 months
- Cost
- From $5K
- First payment
- $2,000
Standard
Several user flows, accounts, an admin view, plus payments or outside integrations.
- Time
- 3–4 months
- Cost
- $10K–15K
- First payment
- $3,500
Full
A multi-role product with several integrations, web and mobile, and launch support.
- Time
- Up to 6 months
- Cost
- $18K–25K
- First payment
- $5,000
Not sure which one fits?
Start with a consult. In 90 minutes you leave with a clear next step.
Clear terms, from the first invoice
You own the work
Full intellectual property transfers to you when the final payment clears.
Scope in writing
Every milestone has acceptance criteria. Any change goes through a written request with its price and time.
Pay as it ships
Payments follow delivered work, never hours logged.
How to pay
Clients outside Egypt: bank wire. Clients in Egypt: bank transfer or InstaPay, in EGP at the day's rate.
Selected work
FMS
An Arabic-first, mobile-first farm management system I built and run. It records the day's farm work, resources and costs in one place.
Case study coming soonAbout
AS
I'm Ahmed Shahwan, a senior software engineer at Foodics, a leading restaurant management platform in the region. I work in the part of software where mistakes cost real money: payments, banking and billing. That taught me to build products that keep working with real customers, and to spell out what a product needs before building it.
7+years building software that handles real money
I also built and run my own product, FMS, an online software service live in production. So I know the founder's side of the table too.
Where I've worked
- Foodics · 2025 – nowSenior engineer at a leading restaurant management platform in the region, on the part that moves money.
- MoneyHash · 2023 – 2025Connected a payments platform to about 25 payment providers across the Middle East and Africa. One of my integrations was accepted into an open-source billing tool.
- Zid · 2021 – 2023Built core parts of the payment system for an online-store platform used by Saudi merchants.
- XPay · 2019 – 2021Early engineer at a payments startup. Built its payment gateway from day one.
Questions
Why pay $100 for a call?
It keeps the session useful. You get my full attention and a clear next step, and the fee is credited toward Product exploration if you book it within 14 days.
What is an MVP PRD?
A written plan of what to build first: users, core flows, scope limits and priorities, detailed enough for any team to estimate and build.
Do I need a PRD before development?
Yes. If you don't have one, Product exploration is the first step. It also makes the build price firm.
How do I pay?
Clients outside Egypt pay by bank wire. Clients in Egypt pay by bank transfer or InstaPay, in EGP at the day's rate. Consultations are paid before the meeting, and you get the scheduling link once the payment arrives.
Who owns the code?
You do, from the final payment.
Which language do we work in?
Arabic or English, whichever suits you.
Have an idea that deserves to exist?
Send a request. I reply with payment details, and once the payment lands you get a private link to pick your time.
Request a consult · $100Prefer email? hello@shahwan.me