Egyptian Operator Leads AI Product Launch at Silicon Valley's Retool

An artificial intelligence product launch led by an Egyptian operator has drawn attention in Silicon Valley as enterprises continue to struggle with moving AI from experimentation to production.

US-based low-code software company Retool has introduced its new AI Agents product, positioning it as a way for large organisations to deploy AI directly into real operational workflows rather than isolated pilots. The six-month launch programme was led by Egyptian product leader Karim El Sewedy, who coordinated teams across product, engineering, marketing and sales to deliver what the company described as its most significant release since its founding.

Retool, which is backed by Sequoia Capital and Y Combinator, introduced the product under a broader strategic shift toward what it calls “enterprise AppGen”. The approach focuses on embedding AI into governed internal systems with built-in controls for security, deployment and management, addressing a common enterprise gap where AI initiatives stall before reaching production.

According to Retool, early adopters of AI Agents include Boston Consulting Group, Databricks and Amazon Web Services. Industry analysts cited the product’s focus on reliability and governance as a key differentiator for enterprises looking to operationalise AI at scale.

El Sewedy said the launch required extensive cross-functional coordination and resulted in a repeatable framework for future large-scale product releases. He has been with Retool for more than three years, during which time he also led its Agency and Templates programmes. He joined the company from McKinsey & Company and was part of the team as Retool scaled to a reported valuation of $3.2 billion within five years. Retool’s customer base includes major technology firms such as OpenAI, NVIDIA, Amazon and Pinterest.

The launch coincides with a broader push on artificial intelligence in Egypt. In 2025, the country introduced a National AI Strategy aimed at training 30,000 specialists and supporting 250 AI-driven companies by 2030, alongside plans to host the inaugural AI Everything Middle East & Africa Summit. El Sewedy is currently working on growth initiatives for Retool’s new Assist product, while continuing to shape the company’s enterprise-focused AI platform and go-to-market strategy.