04
social impact
It sounds cliché, but I really want to leave the world in a better place than it was before me. There are so many opportunities we are given by others even if we do not realize it; it’s only fair to give something back to society as a whole. I really think Steve Jobs’ reflection on this sums it up well:
I grow little of the food I eat, and of the little I do grow I did not breed or perfect the seeds.
I do not make any of my own clothing.
I speak a language I did not invent or refine.
I did not discover the mathematics I use.
I am protected by freedoms and laws I did not conceive of or legislate, and do not enforce or adjudicate.
I am moved by music I did not create myself.
When I needed medical attention, I was helpless to help myself survive.
I did not invent the transistor, the microprocessor, object oriented programming, or most of the technology I work with.
I love and admire my species, living and dead, and am totally dependent on them for my life and well being.
Steve Jobs
My main way of giving back so far has been through the initiative Project Origin. It addresses a problem that I myself once faced: immigrants are locked out of entrepreneurship because of a) lacking the finances to be able to bootstrap a business, b) lacking a network, c) a cultural stigma around entrepreneurship as risky, d) no other immigrant entrepreneur role models to look up to, and e) lacking a structured learning program that was actually specific to the immigrant experience and their barriers.
And so, I started Project Origin: a bootcamp that gives immigrant students these exact things — seed funding, structured learning, mentorship from other immigrant entrepreneurs, and overall a platform to enter entrepreneurship. We’ve distributed over $3K in funding so far across 3 bootcamps and empowered 20+ profitable businesses. Additionally, we’ve added an online entrepreneurship learning platform to our website, making it essentially the “Khan Academy for entrepreneurship.” That has over 1,000 users. Being able to give back this way gives me a sense of fulfillment that no accomplishment ever will.
learn more at: www.projectorigin.co