Debojit Saha is the co-founder of Shurokkha-a startup that helps female garment workers by providing hygienic sanitary napkins. Shurokkha launched out of Bangladesh Startup Cup 2014 and one of the four finalists of the cup.
Recently, we spoke to Debojit to know more about the progress of Shurokkha, its current stage, business model, future plan and more.
Please tell us briefly about yourself.
I am Debojit Saha. I graduated from Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Dhaka University. I co-founded Shurokkha, to help female garment workers by providing hygienic sanitary napkins.
Shurokkha is a startup that helps female garment workers by providing hygienic sanitary napkins.
What is your core idea?
Low income earning women usually find it difficult to maintain menstrual hygiene and thus suffer from reproductive health related problems. To address this problem, I came up with an idea that revolves around providing affordable and hygienic sanitary napkins to the women garment workers of Bangladesh.
What is your business model? How do you plan to generate revenue?
We plan to earn revenue by selling the sanitary napkins to the RMG factories. We will also appoint ladies who will reach out to the community with the products.
At what stage are you now with your startup?
We have our prototype ready. We are also talking to few clients who are interested in us. To make the product of best quality we are trying to have few gynecologists with us. We are also trying to sort out our investment.
How did you manage your initial fund?
Initially, I invested from my own pocket. Later on, my team won a competition in Hong Kong and we were featured in Prothom Alo and afterward few investors approached us and we raised a small seed fund.
I believe it is a great initiative. This particular event put the entrepreneurial activities in a systematic and organized framework as it brought similar minded people under one roof who was trying very hard to bring change in the society through entrepreneurship.
What do you think about Bangladesh Startup Cup?
I believe it is a great initiative. This particular event put the entrepreneurial activities in a systematic and organized framework as it brought similar minded people under one roof who was trying very hard to bring change in the society through entrepreneurship. Personally for my project, Bangladesh Startup Cup 2014 had played a very critical role.
How did Bangladesh Startup Cup help in your journey in terms of attracting investors?
To be honest, I have been a bit disappointed on this investment issue. I thought I would be able to manage someone from there. There were a lot of promises but in the end nothing worked. Investment is a big time issue in Bangladesh. Very few people show genuine interest. But I believe this will change eventually.
What are the few good things about the cup?
The organizers put in a remarkable effort, they worked really hard. Secondly, the mentorship we received through this platform was truly helpful. Finally, the networking of the likeminded people in the entrepreneurial ecosystem was another thing to be admired.
Investment is a big time issue in Bangladesh. Very few people show genuine interest. But I believe this will change eventually.
What are the few things that you did not like about the cup?
The food was not up to the mark (!!). Another thing which I did not like is that in most of the events the judges were from IT background. There should be a balance. Furthermore, the whole process was quite time consuming.
What do you expect from the next Bangladesh Startup Cup?
I expect the event to involve more investors who would commit genuinely and also I believe the next time there would be more interesting ideas.
Interview by Fatema Mohammad for Future Startup, Edited by Ruhul Kader, Image by Shurokkha
