Amin Shaykho

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Amin Shaykho
Amin Shaykho main.jpg
Born (1998-01-20) January 20, 1998 (age 28)
Seattle, Washington
NationalityUnited States
EducationUniversity of Washington, Seattle
Occupation
  • CEO
  • Entrepreneur
  • Speaker
  • Social media influencer
Organization
  • Kadama
  • Apple
  • University of Washington
  • Boeing
Known forFounder and CEO of Kadama[1]
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Websiteaminshaykho.com

Amin Shaykho (born January 20, 1998) is an American entrepreneur, social media influencer, software engineer, speaker, and co-founder and CEO of Kadama,[2][3] a mobile tutoring application[4] that connects students with tutors.[5] Shaykho is a TEDx speaker and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in the education category.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Early life and education

Shaykho was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He attended Lake Washington High School and graduated in 2016 with a 4.0 GPA,[15] also receiving an associate degree from Bellevue College that year. He created a club called Code for Care in 2016, his senior year at high school, and served as its president. The club created mobile applications to help non-profit organizations.[16]

Shaykho graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2018.[17]

Since childhood, Shaykho has actively volunteered at nonprofits that help children, refugees, and others in need. This formed his passion for helping others.[18] At the same time, Shaykho’s mother encouraged him to develop a business mindset by supporting ideas like his resale business in middle school. At the age of 14, Shaykho started his first business venture that involved reselling Apple products.[19][20]

Career

From 2018 to 2021, Shaykho worked as a senior software engineer at Apple and previously interned at Boeing and Affirma Consulting. At Apple, he worked with leadership across the Messages, Health and Core Location teams, contributing to features released in iOS 13 and presented at WWDC 2019.[21][22][23][24]

In 2016, Shaykho co-founded Kadama with his friend Marwan El-Rukby and brother Dani Shaykho. The company was named after the Arabic word for "service.” The founders launched their platform publicly in 2018, initially focusing on services such as housework, before shifting their focus to tutoring in 2019.[25][26][27][28][29][30]

In 2019, Kadama participated in the University of Washington's Dempsey Startup Competition and later that year joined the Foster School of Business Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship’s Jones + Foster Accelerator. In 2020, Kadama received $25,000 in funding through the accelerator. In 2020, Kadama was ranked the top student-led startup in the Northwest by the Northwest Entrepreneurs Competition[31] and awarded $10,000 in funding.[32][33]

In 2021, Kadama raised $1.7 million in seed funding after reaching No. 2 in the Education category of the App Store.[34][35][36] The company grew over 2 million followers on social media, particularly TikTok and Instagram, to reach students and grow its user base. Kadama’s content includes shopping, technology and finance-related tips. In 2024, GeekWire reported that more than 70 percent of Kadama's students discovered the platform through TikTok.[37][38]

Awards and recognition

In 2021, Shaykho received a Seattle Inno Under 25 award.[39][40]

In 2022, Shaykho was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Education list and Forbes 30 Under 30 Youngest list.[41][42][43] Shaykho was also featured on the cover of the July/August 2022 issue of 425 Business Magazine.[44][45][46]

In 2023, Shaykho was named a Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree.[47][48][49][50][51]

Social media

Shaykho is a social media influencer with 4.1 million followers (as of September 2026) and often goes viral for his videos featuring extra-large food. One of his most popular videos garnered 83 million views on YouTube after he took an oversized popcorn bucket to the theater and had it filled for just $5.[52][53]

His social media growth has received coverage from several media organizations. In 2023, The Washington Post quoted Shaykho in its coverage of TikTok and its impact on businesses.[54][55][56] His content has also been covered by publications including The Daily Mail, Fox Business and other media outlets.[57][58][59]

Speaking and media appearances

Shaykho is a TEDx speaker. He has spoken at the University of Washington, University of California and participated in many media and podcast interviews regarding education, business, social media and technology.

In October 2025, PBS's Start Up featured Shaykho in an episode about his company Kadama.[60][61]

In 2026, Shaykho participated in a panel at the Forbes Under 30 Summit discussing[62] the use of viral content and social media in building businesses.[63][64][65][66]

Personal life

Shaykho is a first-generation Syrian-American born in Seattle, Washington. He was the first person in his family to attend college and is fluent in English and Arabic.[67]

In the media

     

References

  1. ↑ Lab, By Zachary Jablonski | UW Seattle News. "Kadama, an app to help the broke college student". NWNEWS.com. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  2. ↑ Amin Shaykho - Ep.4, retrieved 2020-07-20
  3. ↑ "Top 36 Teams Advance in Dempsey Startup Competition". Foster Blog. 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  4. ↑ "New tutoring app allows high schoolers and college students to teach each other". FOX 13 Seattle.
  5. ↑ "Tutoring, On Demand". Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "BC Alum's App Creates Connection :: BC Today @ Bellevue College". Bellevue College. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  7. ↑ Quiroz, Stephanie (2018-10-12). "Two Eastside friends develop a service provider application". Bellevue Reporter. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  8. ↑ "Amin | TEDxUCSD". TEDxUCSD | 2019. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  9. ↑ "Accelerating innovation". UW College of Engineering. 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  10. ↑ "Startups Showcase Grows Connections for Student Entrepreneurs". Foster Blog. 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  11. ↑ Shaykho, Amin (2019-03-09). "3 Important Lessons That Prepared Me to Run a Startup in College". Medium. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  12. ↑ "BC Alum's App Creates Connection". Bellevue College. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "Costco shopping expert reveals secret". The Mirror.
  14. ↑ "Amin Shaykho". Bellevue College. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  15. ↑ "Lake Washington High School Class of 2016". Kirkland Reporter. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "Costco gift card hack lets non-members shop at wholesale club". FOX 13 Seattle.
  17. ↑ "Amin Shaykho student story". Bellevue College.
  18. ↑ "Student Startup Spotlight: Kadama Offers a Helping Hand". Foster Blog. 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  19. ↑ "Zara shopper reveals secret code on your clothes everyone needs to know". 7NEWS. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  20. ↑ "Ex-Zara employee lifts the lid on secret shopping tips". The Mirror. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "This Week in Apps: WWDC 21 highlights, Instagram Creator Week recap, Android 12 beta 2 arrives". TechCrunch. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "How UW's startup culture nurtures a growing number of student businesses". UW Magazine — University of Washington Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  23. ↑ "Two Eastside friends develop a service provider application". Bellevue Reporter. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  24. ↑ Kurt Schlosser (2 February 2021). "Seattle tutoring app founders learn to harness TikTok to build a huge base of potential users". GeekWire. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  25. ↑ "Funding Awards Announced for Jones + Foster Accelerator". Foster Blog. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  26. ↑ "Startups Welcomed into 2019 Jones + Foster Accelerator". Foster Blog. 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  27. ↑ "Thanksgiving in international immigrant family traditions". USA Today. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  28. ↑ "Why buy cosmetics at Target? Friday shoppers share their best hacks". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  29. ↑ "iPhone iMessage trick finds deleted texts using iCloud backup". The U.S. Sun. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  30. ↑ "Kadama — Bellevue, WA". PBS. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  31. ↑ Virginia Thomas (23 April 2020). "Northwest Entrepreneur Competition names winners". Spokane Journal of Business. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  32. ↑ Cho, Justin (2020-05-31). "Giving TEDx a New Look". UCSD Guardian. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  33. ↑ "Costco gift card hack reportedly allows non-members to shop wholesale club". Fox Business. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  34. ↑ Hana Kim (13 July 2021). "Bellevue startup's dream of changing educational access garners $1.7 million investment". FOX 13 Seattle. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  35. ↑ Alex Halverson (7 June 2021). "Seattle-based tutoring app Kadama raises $1.7M, credits viral TikTok videos for growth". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  36. ↑ Kurt Schlosser (7 June 2021). "Seattle tutoring app Kadama gets quick lesson in success as it raises $1.7M, grows social following". GeekWire. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  37. ↑ "Giving TEDx a New Look". The UCSD Guardian. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  38. ↑ "Seattle-based tutoring platform Kadama raises $1.7M in seed funding". EdTechReview.
  39. ↑ "Seattle Inno Under 25: Amin Shaykho, Kadama co-founder and CEO". Puget Sound Business Journal. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  40. ↑ "Inno Under 25: Meet Seattle's Gen Z stars". Seattle Inno.
  41. ↑ "30 Under 30 2022: Education". Forbes. 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  42. ↑ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2022: Education — Kadama". Forbes. 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  43. ↑ "Kadama: Education app founded by UW students makes Forbes 30 Under 30". KING 5. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  44. ↑ "Most Influential 2022". 425 Business. 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  45. ↑ "425 Business — Page 1". 425 Business. Internet Archive. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  46. ↑ "425 Business — Page 24". 425 Business. Internet Archive. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  47. ↑ "40 Under 40: Amin Shaykho, Kadama". Puget Sound Business Journal. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  48. ↑ "Seattle entrepreneurs who used TikTok to help build their businesses blast potential ban in U.S." GeekWire.
  49. ↑ "Arab America Foundation Announces 30 Under 30 Awardees, Class of 2023". Arab America.
  50. ↑ "40 Under 40 2023". 425 Business.
  51. ↑ "Kadama COO and TikTok growth". Puget Sound Business Journal.
  52. ↑ "Menchie's Frozen Yogurt $5 Deal". Daily Dot. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  53. ↑ "Big Wig". University of Washington Magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  54. ↑ Taylor Lorenz (28 March 2023). "Congress had a lot to say about TikTok. Much of it was wrong". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  55. ↑ "TikTok users share little-known hack to shop at Costco without paying annual fee". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  56. ↑ "TikTok user reveals super helpful shopping hack". Yahoo. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  57. ↑ "From Running Start to Start-Up". Bellevue College. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  58. ↑ "I'm a shopping expert — secret codes can save money at Costco". Daily Mail. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  59. ↑ "TikTokkers share secret Costco gift card hack". The Mirror.
  60. ↑ "Kadama — Bellevue, WA". THIRTEEN. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  61. ↑ Rick Morgan (17 August 2021). "For tiny startup Kadama, hiring push means long days for CEO". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  62. ↑ "Forbes Announces Additional Speakers and Performers for Under 30 Summit". Forbes.
  63. ↑ "2026 Under 30: Social Media Magic—The Art and Science of Turning Viral Hits Into Massive Brands". Forbes. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  64. ↑ "Live From The 2026 Forbes Under 30 Summit". Forbes. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  65. ↑ "This Hack Will Get You Into Costco Without a Membership". Entrepreneur.
  66. ↑ "TJ Maxx pricing code revealed". The U.S. Sun.
  67. ↑ Meagan Loyst (25 November 2024). "Snapchat moves beyond social media with a sense of community". The Times. Retrieved 30 September 2026.

External links

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