Haute Living Q&A With Masoud Nafey, Founder of Ment: Elevating Connection Through Relationship Intelligence

Haute Living: Ment promises more intentional and meaningful relationship-building—far from the transactional, swipe-heavy models we’ve come to expect. But how does the app curate deeper bonds?

Masoud Nafey: The key is understanding that any relationship journey spans from intent to meet all the way to nurturing a relationship.

Platforms like LinkedIn sit at the “intent” end–Ment thrives at the moMent right before you meet someone, and everything that follows to build that relationship.

We strip away the noise and surface-level information and offer contextual insights, designed to make a memorable first impression.

Then we help you build on that moMentum with insights tailored to your evolving relationship—think of it as intelligent relationship memory; available instantly, right when you need it most.

Haute Living: In an age of digital burnout, how does Ment help users bridge the digital and physical—especially in cities like LA, Tokyo, Washington D.C., New York City or even Copenhagen, where design and in-person experiences matter?

Masoud Nafey: Digital isn’t going away—it’s only accelerating. In the last two years, the world has seen a decade worth of technological advanceMents. The problem is tech often makes things more impersonal.

Ment flips that upside down.

We use AI to improve personal connections, rather than erase it. Instead of expecting users to piece together info from Google, LinkedIn, or social platforms, Ment does the heavy lifting. We pull relevant insights from vast public sources and deliver only what matters—organized, accurate, and ready when you need it.

This helps you show up fully informed, making your time together more impactful.

Haute Living: Privacy is nonetheless always a major concern in AI and data-driven platforms. How does Ment safeguard user information while encouraging real connections?

Masoud Nafey: We’re a privacy-first platform—privacy by design, not as an afterthought.

Before writing a single line of code, we brought on advisors with experience at the DepartMent of Homeland Security (DHS) and notable big tech companies to ensure our infrastructure and architecture was airtight.

All our platform needs is a name—and it goes to work. If you choose to add more context, like personal notes from a conversation or meeting, that data stays 100% private and personalized—just for you.

Even the AI models only receive de-identified metadata, never your personal data.

Haute Living: Ment is already striking a chord with professionals in lifestyle and creative fields. How is the platform built for those who value aesthetics, intentional growth, and purpose over scale?

Masoud Nafey: We created Ment for organizations that rely on high-impact individuals, people whose time is limited and whose relationships are essential.

Whether you’re a design-forward founder or leading a global team, we give you the most relevant insights in seconds—without needing an assistant or analyst.

Ment integrates with any of your calendars, simply identifies who you’re meeting, and delivers context-rich intelligence with intuitive UX and a clean interface.

For example, if someone hates coffee, we will recommend a juice bar instead.

It’s all about helping you be your most intentional, thoughtful self in every interaction.

Haute Living: There’s ongoing tension in the creative world around whether AI enhances or hinders originality. Where does Ment stand?

Masoud Nafey: We believe the best technology is invisible.

Make no mistake – Ment isn’t here to replace creativity—it’s here to enable deeper human connection.

Our AI helps users communicate more personally and thoughtfully. If it’s Christmas and you want to reach out, Ment doesn’t just blast a generic message. It prompts you with a contextual and personalized draft based on your past interactions.

The human stays at the center—we never automate the send. This is AI as a creative assistant, not a creative substitute.

Haute Living: You recently collaborated with SXSW London. Can you share how Ment is working with brands and communities aligned with Haute Living’s ethos?

Masoud Nafey: Absolutely. We powered the relationship intelligence for SXSW London’s inaugural event—25,000+ attendees, and over two million connections made. Ment AI was the ultimate networking technology for events.

We seamlessly integrated into the event tech to help attendees connect beyond cocktail hours—bringing context and compatibility into the networking experience.

Instead of browsing headshots, users saw shared industries, mutual passions, and meaningful background info—enabling real connections in real time.

These are the kinds of design-forward, globally conscious activations we’re excited to scale.

Haute Living: What inspired you to build Ment in the first place? What gap did you see?

Masoud Nafey: It started with a personal belief: relationships are everything.

Your network really is your net worth—but for the most high-impact people, it’s also the hardest thing to maintain.

I saw powerful individuals missing opportunities to deepen connections simply because they didn’t have time or tools. We did extensive research before writing any code, studying how people first interact and what let their guard down and build rapport.

From that, we designed Ment to accelerate authenticity and make trust more attainable—using AI as a tool for good.

Haute Living: Lastly, what do you want Haute Living readers to take away about Ment?

Masoud Nafey: Whether you’re a global organization, or a visionary creative —Ment was built to help you turn everyday interactions into lasting impact.

Ment helps introverts, for instance, feel more confident, keeps busy professionals organized, and empowers everyone to show up with intention.

We’re not here to replace human connection—we’re here to make it richer, smarter, and more personal.