Meet Ismail El Houcheimi, a software engineer, founder, and innovator who is redefining how people manage their projects and decisions in an era of overwhelming digital noise. As the creator of Zenflo, an AI-driven project management tool, and co-founder of Lineup, an events management platform, Ismail represents the new wave of tech entrepreneurs who blend creativity, problem-solving, and empathy into their work.
Humans of Fuzia is featuring him under our HeForShe initiative for his progressive views on gender equality, his encouragement for women in male-dominated spaces, and his commitment to building technology that supports productivity and wellbeing.
Q: Ismail, could you start by telling us the inspiration behind Zenflo?
A: Over the past few years, AI has advanced at an incredible pace, especially in writing code. My background is in building software, so I naturally experimented with these tools. I initially created Zenflo just for myself — I had many personal, work, and side projects happening at once, and I wanted a system that could help me prioritize what mattered at any given moment.
As I built it, I realized that the challenge of juggling multiple priorities is universal. That’s when I decided to turn it into a real product that could help others achieve clarity and balance in their work and personal lives.
Q: You’re also building another venture, Lineup. Could you tell us about that?
A: Yes, Lineup is an event-management platform I co-founded with my friend, who is a DJ and festival organizer. He needed technical support to build a system that simplifies event planning from start to finish. We’ve been working on it for almost four years now. Zenflo is my main focus, but Lineup continues to grow steadily on the side.
Q: What do you find most challenging about entrepreneurship?
A: The biggest challenge is ruthless prioritization. As a founder, you wear every hat — product builder, marketer, salesperson. Switching between deep technical work and outward-facing tasks requires constant context switching.
The skill lies in identifying what matters right now, giving it full focus, and then moving to the next priority. It’s a balancing act that gets better with experience, but it remains challenging.
Q: Since you work closely with AI, what do you see as its best uses — and limitations?
A: AI is transformative, but only when used correctly. To get the most out of it, you must understand both your domain and the model’s capabilities. When used with the right context, AI can:
• act as an advisor for decision-making
• accelerate boilerplate coding
• handle repetitive tasks
• assist with writing content, marketing copy, or website materials
But you should always supervise it. We’re not at a point where AI should run independently. And when it comes to content, authenticity still matters — your real voice and experience must guide the final output.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of being an entrepreneur?
A: Hearing users say that something I built makes their lives easier. Every positive message or validation reminds me that the hard work is worth it. It shows that I’m contributing in a meaningful way.
Q: What message would you like to share with aspiring entrepreneurs?
A: If you have an idea — something you feel should exist in the world — pursue it. The resources available today make the journey more accessible than ever.
Leaving a stable job or comfort zone can be scary, but once you take that first step, momentum builds. Surround yourself with people who support your mission, stay focused, and keep moving.
Q: Zenflo is a young startup. How has the journey been so far?
A: It’s definitely challenging. Startups require work across product development, marketing, incorporation, and operations — and each area brings its own obstacles.
My focus now is:
• building the right product by constantly talking to users
• iterating based on feedback
• improving marketing (I’m currently hiring a marketer!)
• transitioning Zenflo from a consumer product into a collaborative platform for teams
• integrating AI agents to help users meet their milestones and goals
It’s a lot, but it’s exciting.
Q: We’d love to hear your views on women empowerment, especially as part of our HeForShe edition.
A: I understand the challenges women face, particularly in male-dominated industries. These issues are real, and change will take time, but women should know they’re not alone. Many people support equality and want to see better conditions for women.
My own mother is my role model — she is a doctor who worked her way up to CEO despite the barriers she faced. Seeing her journey inspires me and reinforces my belief that persistence, support, and courage can create real progress.
“Take the leap. If there’s something you want to bring into the world, trust yourself, take the first step, and build your momentum.” — Ismail El Houcheimi
Want to be featured?
To be part of the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
