Waiz Rahim, Photo: courtesy

Startup businesses have recently gained much popularity in our country. Youngsters are focusing more on creating jobs rather than finding one. One of the major obstacles for starting a startup organisation out of the ordinary is to get the proper funds. To help startups get through this barrier Waiz Rahim has created the first ever crowdfunding website for Bangladesh named Projekt.co. The website helps to bring the power of crowdfunding to the social change makers, entrepreneurs and even artists. Waiz is also associated with Y Athletics, a startup which sells odour repelling garments in the United States.

An Industrial Engineering major from the University of Southern California, Waiz never thought of becoming a social entrepreneur. "We tried crowdfunding for the first time with Y Athletics," says Waiz. "In the first four weeks we received triple the funds than what we needed. That is when it hit me that this can also work in my country." Soon Waiz started to develop the website of Projekt.co and finally launched the website in 2014. Anyone with an idea can seek help through Projekt.co.

"The initial plan was to help entrepreneurs and small scale businesses to help raise their funds, but I saw that our country is full of brilliant ideas," says Waiz. "Now we want to cater to every idea we think can bring a change."  Popular projects such as Obhoyaronno's street dog welfare program are being funded through the help of Projekt.co.  "One of the first projects we launched through Projekt.co was a funding for rebuilding Nepal," says Waiz. "The project was that of Wasfia Nazneen's, who is a famous mountaineer. It was so successful that we are still running it on our website so that more people can join in."

One of the major hurdles Waiz had to face was gaining people's trust in the website. "Everything on the website is transparent so that people can see and know about whatever they are funding," says Waiz. His initial plan is to apply the social business model to make Projekt.co self sustaining. 

As we are rapidly moving towards digitalization, Waiz thinks crowdfunding will be one of the biggest companions for future entrepreneurs. "We are heading towards a world in which technology is essential.  So why not make the best use of it," asks Waiz.