I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Hassan Hankir, a mathematician, entrepreneur, and research scientist who is deeply passionate about technology and its potential to improve people's lives. A topic I am also deeply passionate about. Our conversation was filled with valuable insights and lessons that I would like to share with you.
Passion and Entrepreneurship:
Hassan emphasized the importance of pursuing your passions and enjoying what you do. He attributes his success to choosing to do things about which he is passionate, such as playing soccer and working with technology. This resonates with me, as I believe that loving what you do is essential for long-term success, especially in fields as demanding as entrepreneurship and technology.
Hassan's Story:
Hassan's journey began in Morocco, where their love for soccer led them to receive a soccer scholarship to study in the US. It was during his time in the US that his passion for technology was discovered and started to grow, particularly virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). He co-founded a VR startup and secured an investor in Germany, leveraging their early entry into the industry to introduce VR to clients and sell their services.
VR, AI and The Need to Adapt:
We also discussed the challenges and rewards of selling VR. Hassan acknowledged the niche nature of VR but highlighted its value in providing unique experiences and solving specific problems, such as in real estate or healthcare.
One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the constant evolution of technology. With Hassan's current focus on AI and data science he reflects the need to adapt and change in the startup world. We discussed his experience of starting with VR and transitioning to AI, emphasizing the importance of continuously learning and diving deep into new technologies.
Hassan expressed their passion for staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in technology. He is always curious about what's coming next in the industry and spends time reading and researching to identify technologies that have the potential for growth and value in the next 5 to 10 years.
Making and Moving On:
When asked about something they have studied that turned out to be useless, Hassan mentioned blockchain. While he can see its potential for future growth, Hassan hasn't seen its full implementation in the tech industry yet and consider it a technology he passed on for now.
Techology Consulting:
Hassan has recently transitioned into a role as a scientific R&D consultant for Layton. This transition has been beneficial as it exposes him to a wide range of technologies, industries, and clients. He enjoys working on personal projects while also helping other companies in different technologies.
We also discussed the future of consulting in data science and analytics. Hassan believes that while automation may play a role in the future, the human brain is still necessary in the consulting process.
The conversation touched on the use of social media algorithms and APIs in AI. Hassan mentioned the use of social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, but admitted that they haven't had much time for Twitter. He also discussed the financial aspect, mentioning that using APIs can be cost-effective and doesn't require extensive mathematical knowledge.
AI and Soft Sciences:
We delved into the application of AI and whether it can replace therapists or other human roles. Hassan shared his perspective that while AI can enhance certain jobs, the human value will always remain. I agree with his belief that humans using AI tools will be better and more successful than AI alone.

Hassan also mentioned his interest in teaching and sharing knowledge. He mentioned a desire to create an online course on Udemy and received advice on understanding market demand and solving existing problems, by one of our listeners Daniel Melo with experience in the development of online courses. Daniel also encouraged working on free materials and generating revenue through ads and partnerships.
In Conclusion:
In wrapping up our conversation, Hassan emphasized the importance of enjoying what you do and doing what you love. They reflected on their own journey, mentioning how they pursued their passions in soccer and technology, which made their work enjoyable. They believe that choosing to do what you love is key to sustaining long-term success in entrepreneurship and technology.
Our conversation with Hassan Hankir highlighted the power of passion, adaptability, and continuous learning in the world of tech entrepreneurship. It was an enlightening experience, and I look forward to future discussions with Hassan and other inspiring individuals.
- Spencer Walker-Fooks
