HERALD: Congratulation for winning the Chief Minister’s Start-Up Challenge. How has life changed for you?
FARHEEN SAYED: There is no doubt that winning a well-respected competition can help validate your work. It proves that someone thinks you are good and helps build a more credible platform. After winning Chief Minister’s Start-Up Challenge, things have changed drastically. The title has not just got us that tag of best creative-tech start-up but it has also given us a lot of exposure and visibility. There is an added responsibility as well. We have received funding offers from some global investors of Rs 6.5 crore. It also gives me a great honor to tell you that the EDC house has decided to make me the brand ambassador of CMRY (Chief Ministers Rozgar Yozna). We are currently working on improving the current platform which will be launched in the first week of August. We are also surfing into the virtual reality space to convert our platform into world’s first 3D social networking platform. Start-up competitions are now in trend. These competitions are a great way for helping future potential entrepreneurs in creating technologies and business models with a high growth potential.
HERALD: What does Brushflicks offer?
FS: We at Brushflicks provide solutions for two major problems in our country — unemployment among the creative sector and acrylic waste management.
The main idea is to infuse creativity with technology and solve some major problems in our country. Yet the irony is millions of people in creative fields have difficulty in making their ends meet. Only a fraction of the country’s artists have made a living out of their vocation. Creativity is widely regarded as a valuable skill in the workplace. But in my observation most self described creative people have trouble finding jobs that satisfy their creative needs and also pay their living wage. Millions of artists, musicians, writers and actors are unemployed and unemployment takes a tough mental toll leading to depression and suicide. We at Brushflicks are looking at solving this problem by generating opportunities and employment for people in this sector.
Also, there is a need to connect the folk artist in the remote areas through digital technology and preserve the heritage. Under Brushflicks we came up with an initiative that in-turn was solving another major problem in our country and that is the acrylic waste that survives in the environment for more than 3000 plus years. We convert this into beautiful acrylic items with IoT integrated technology.
HERALD: What hurdles do you face in your business?
FS: From the product side, approaching the students, art curators, institutions, art agencies and people in the creative sector to use our platform getting their feedback to improve and also collecting the acrylic plastic waste from the vendors for recycling it into acrylic items is the biggest challenge. Also, approaching the people who are socially unaware and ignorant about the use of technology in enhancing their creativity and improving their livelihood. Educational institutions and private agencies working in art and media sector will have a major role to play.
From my personal side, our team has been actively involved in product development and in solving the technical issues. But to convert it into a enterprise and market the technology in all the developing nations exposure to the other aspects like marketing, human resource management, financial management , logistics. However, I am willing to take up both the above challenges learn as much possible in the process, be more flexible to finally become a successful entrepreneur.
HERALD: What are the hurdles you as young entrepreneur, face?
FS: Funding is harder to get when you are young for a number of reasons. You usually would not have any personal savings to draw upon, your finances will be less stable, and you would not have a credible history to show to prospective lenders. Also, when one is young, it will be difficult to gain reputation in the market. People will not recognise and it will be difficult for a young start-up to draw their connections to a specific industry as it is very dynamic and market driven. One will be starting from scratch, which puts you at a disadvantage to your more seasoned counterparts. Unfortunately, most lenders, angel investors, and potential clients stereotype a young start-up because of your age. One will be seen as less wise and more prone to rookie mistakes, and people will be less willing to give you a chance and time.
HERALD: When did you finish your engineering and how did you start
FS: I started my entrepreneurial journey in 2015 immediately after I completed my engineering from Goa’s Padre Conceicao College of Engineering with absolutely no corporate experience and with hardly Rs 5000 in my pocket. I started a company name Canvasmirage to fund Brushflicks where I would sell art prints, where I successfully failed but that did not stop me. So I ventured into another business where I started selling mangoes, yes you heard it right, mangoes. I was the laughing stock in my circle. With all the satirical and sarcastic remarks like “Ab aam bech liya bas Machli bechna baki hai” (you have sold mangoes now you can sell fish too). I finally raised funds for Brushflicks which was launched in November 2016.
HERALD: Do you think Goa has the infrastructure required for start-ups?
FS: Yes, Goa has good infrastructure for start-ups. Commercial office spaces in major cities, such as Panjim, Vasco and Margao, are reasonably priced. Several co-working spaces and shared offices are also beginning to pop up in Goa. Initiatives such as CIBA (Assagao and Verna) are also steps in the right direction that provide plug and play office space at very affordable rates.
HERALD: Any message you would like to share?
FS: I see many people going about with the title of an entrepreneur are not really in it to create change. They are in it to make a survival. And when survival is the focus, mediocrity becomes the outcome. Entrepreneurship is beyond survival. Survival is not the goal of entrepreneurship but rather making a difference.
HERALD: Where do you see your company in the next five years?
FS: Brushflickswill be the biggest hub for generating employment opportunities for creative sector and waste management strategies. One of the hardest part of starting a new business is getting it off the ground, raising start-up funds, learning the ropes, and finding those few customers is not that easy. I am willing to take up both the above challenges learn as much as possible in the process, be more flexible to finally become a successful entrepreneur.
