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Tehran Disrupted

Tehran Disrupted

Written by: Hamid Shojaee
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About this listen

 You may not expect that a country like Iran could possibly be home to high tech startups and scrappy entrepreneurs who build successful companies. In spite of severe sanctions, rising inflation rates and restrictive conditions, some Iranians have built major tech companies that solve some of the country's biggest problems. This is Tehran Disrupted, a podcast about the brave founders of some of Iran's biggest companies. In each episode, host Hamid Shojaee tells the fascinating stories of how these men and women found success and, ultimately, disrupted Tehran.© 2025 Tehran Disrupted Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Hamrah Mechanic: Paving the road for Iranian car buyers

    Hamrah Mechanic: Paving the road for Iranian car buyers
    Jan 4 2022

    In Iran, cars are like gold. Instead of putting their money in a bank where it could lose value due to inflation, Iranians buy used cars. Even the worst cars appreciate in value. It's not unusual for a person's entire life savings to be tied up in their car.

    In this episode, we hear the story of Amir Pahlevanzadeh and how he used this idea to build a multimillion dollar company that completely disrupted the used car market in Iran.

    Credit: Voiceover work by Ethan Herschenfeld
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    26 mins
  • Komodaa: A company by women, for women

    Komodaa: A company by women, for women
    Dec 15 2021
    Here's a pleasant surprise: Iran is home to some major tech companies founded by…wait for it…women. How is it possible to build a tech company as a woman in Iran? In the second episode of Tehran Disrupted, we learn how Sana Khalesi, the founder of Komodaa, pulled it off. You're also going to love Hamid's co-host in this episode.
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    35 mins
  • Digikala: The Amazon of Iran

    Digikala: The Amazon of Iran
    Dec 8 2021

    Iran's tech ecosystem is thriving, in spite of challenges like heavy international sanctions and increasing inflation. At the center of that world is Digikala, Iran's own version of Amazon. In this episode, we hear the story of how Digikala co-founder Hamid Mohammadi and his brother Sayid built their billion dollar business, the struggles they overcame and his ideas for the future of the online marketplace.
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    26 mins
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