An entrepreneur in the making
25 January 2008
The story of a young man determined to succeed
Thimphu: When Ben Casnocha was 12, he was inspired to become an entrepreneur by Apple Computer’s “Think Different” ad campaign.
In 2001, after a string of ventures, including selling gumballs to his brothers, Ben started Comcate, a software company, which focuses exclusively on improving operations for public agencies. So far, more than 50 small and mid-sized government agencies have installed his company’s Web-based software.
Now at 18, he plans to have Comcate in more than 300 agencies by 2010 and predicts revenue of USD 6 million.
Ben is one of the successful young entrepreneurs in America. In Bhutan, 23-year-old, Tashi Sonam is a promising entrepreneur. He runs ‘bhutan d2d’ (bhutan door-to-door), a delivery service, one of its kind in Bhutan. Bhutan d2d delivers papers, LPG gas, food and grocery items, furniture, helps clients with apartment arrangements and also provides electronic workers and plumbers.
Standing five feet 11 inches, donned in a white jacket with a G-Star at the back and in stone washed denims, he comes across as a kid next door with un-kept hair, but there is more to him than just being an eye candy. In 2006, 777 graduates attended the National Graduate Orientation Programme. Then 22 year-old, Tashi Sonam was one of them.
Soon after the orientation, he sat for the civil service examination. The results had him waiting for a employment call from the government.
As time went by, he started getting restless in pursuit of a job. One day, his older brother talked to him about a door to door service business. That was it. Tashi Sonam said that his father also advised him to start something of his own.
Then, he studied the market and saw the feseability of starting the business. With a monetary help of Nu. 300,000 from his family and with four workers, Tashi Sonam started his venture. He set up an office, put up a computer, brought office stationeries, and two-second hand delivery vans.
Bhutan d2d was thus born. For a month, he went about marketing his business through the media, going door-to-door and distributing pamphlets and giving away flyers.
Looking at the workload, after a month he brought a jeep and a DCM truck.
Initially, he received three to four calls from clients in a day, now he attends to 30-40 clients a day. Currently he has approximately 500 clients, including 300 regular clients.
Now, he has seven employed workers, three part-timers and and other helpers. Tashi says, “so far so good, I am happy the way things are shaping up.” Few of the clients, Observer talked to, said they were satisfied with the services provided by d2d.
“I would say they are doing a commendable job,” said Kinley Om, a housewife.
Meanwhile, Tashi’s father, Parob Dorji is proud of his son. “He is the youngest and has proved his mettle,” said Parob Dorji.
Tashi also runs a canteen and is involed in catering business. Now with his business doing well, his long-term plan is to go nationwide by starting e-business. He has already started working on it, and hopes that his plan will materialise by the end of this year.
Apart form his work; he has little time to spare for leisure, but with no regrets whatsoever. Tashi knows that the fruit of labour is going to be sweet but until the fruit is ripe he is prepared to work and work.
By Tashi Wangmo
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I’m very much delighted and motivated at the same time by going through this article. M currently an undergraduate.Till now my ultimate aim was to do a job in a government or a private organisation. After going through this article i’d like to do something on my own. I would like to be self employed. Tashi Sonam has become my role model. Keep it up Tashi.My sincere wishes are with you..
After going through this article, i found Tashi Sonam as a very sucessful,talanted and a hard working person. keep it up Mr. Tashi, m very much proud that you are showing a brillant idea to our unemployed youths and at the same time m much inspired to do a business like you. Presently i m an undergradute of Gaeddug College of Business Studies.
m proud of you Tashi, keep your spirit growing. you can do things differently different la.