Dr. Mohammad Abdul Matin Emon has developed ‘Doctorola’. The organization finds the nearest doctor through online for people. He is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the company. 

Bangla Tribune: Why have you become an entrepreneur? 

Mohammad Abdul Matin Emon: I am an entrepreneur while being a student at the University of Dhaka. While I was in the second semester, I set up an office. I started the business by selling two computers. The Business becomes quite big after seven years. From then the concept of business entered into my thought. Yet the business is to be closed for several reasons. The job life begins but the desire was to come back to the business again once a little stability came. It took 12 years to think that it is the time to take the risk. When I quit the job and started a software company, which has a project ‘Doctorola’. Later it becomes a separate company.

Bangla Tribune: What are the pre-conditions to be an entrepreneur?

Mohammad Abdul Matin Emon: To be an entrepreneur, there is a need to know and understand the exact cause. There are some reasons that 'I am not getting a job so I will be an entrepreneur', 'Disappointment in the job, so I should be an entrepreneur’ or 'Jobs are at such a level that there is nothing to achieve here - so I should be an entrepreneur’; considering these reasons, it is not right to be an entrepreneur. As well as being willing to be an entrepreneur, there should be a strong desire to achieve something within him. One did something when the time is not good and when he got a better chance he went back to the previous state - if this happens, the power of tolerance to struggle does not grow.

There is a struggle to be an entrepreneur. Many sacrifices are needed. The right way for doing business as an entrepreneur is to continue with the struggle, not to leave and keep strong willpower. During my crisis in my own business, I can tell a story of struggle - at one time I was in financial trouble for my inexperience. There was a problem paying employees. I decided not to spend any extra money for me till the crisis was over. At that time I did not eat food for four months at noon. I did not ride on the rickshaw, bus or taxi. I used to walk even on the rainy days. Even I quit smoking. Four months later when the crisis started to end, I went back to my regular life except smoking.

Bangla Tribune: Say something about the problems or the challenges in it.

Mohammad Abdul Matin Emon: The problem of entrepreneurship is different. But common problem is to lose focus. Many try to do a lot together, which is not a good idea. You have a lot of ideas on the side but all should start with an idea at first without doing all together. Keep other ideas for good times. If you start working with a lot of ideas, it will not be easy to go another one without trying to solve it. Young entrepreneurs are inexperienced, so they do not aware of the problems or if there is any legal complicity because everyone does not have the ability to watch from different angles to the matters.

The Bangla Tribune: Many also become failures.

Mohammad Abdul Matin Emon: The main reason is to start with the wrong goal. If the goal is wrong then it is difficult to succeed. The matter of money comes far later. However, for most startups, most of the initiatives are spoiled, only for the misconceptions of entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur thinks, his idea is unique, everyone will take it as a hot cake, and people will invest. This is a misconception. One idea is in the thoughts of thousands of people around the world. And the first of the obstacles is the lack of confidence and willpower, the second is the lack of experience and knowledge.

To see and understand the whole world with ones’ own eyes is a big problem for most of the part of tech start-ups. They are fascinated by their own 'product'. They do not think about the market demand. The lack of knowledge about 'Critical Management component' is another major obstacle. No one will teach one how to do marketing, packaging. The entrepreneur will have to cope with all. Besides, it is also important to learn to be associated with resource collection, advertising or digital marketing firm. In the case of funding, the idea will be nicely presented and 'sell' to the investors. It's another kind of sale.