This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Dylan Zajac, 21, a senior at Babson Faculty. At 15, Zajac had a facet hustle thrifting and fixing computer systems. The gig impressed Zajac to discovered his nonprofit Computer systems 4 Individuals, which offers refurbished computer systems to individuals in want. Responses have been edited for size and readability.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Computer systems 4 Individuals
When did you begin your facet hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
I began out by going to thrift shops round Brooklyn, New York, with my highschool associates, simply as a enjoyable interest. We would take the PATH practice from Hoboken after which skate from thrift retailer to thrift retailer, usually hitting three or extra in a single day. At these retailers, we might sift by way of piles of previous electronics, trying to find hidden gems. After we discovered one thing worthwhile, we might negotiate arduous to get a deal. Some days we purchased so many computer systems we needed to stack them on our skateboards to roll them residence.
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As soon as we bought the computer systems again, we might clear them up, repair them and promote them on Fb Market or eBay. Earlier than lengthy, this interest was an actual enterprise. At one level, my total bed room was stuffed with random desktops and Apple PowerBooks. The margins have been insane, typically as excessive as 80%!
What have been a few of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom? How did it evolve into the nonprofit you run now?
One of many key issues that made it potential for me to begin my facet hustle was gaining access to a laptop computer and the web once I was in center college. I would spend hours watching YouTube tutorials on methods to refurbish computer systems and studying the ins and outs of ecommerce platforms, which helped me attain tons of of shoppers, all from my bed room.
However as I bought deeper into this, I began noticing an enormous drawback. On my journeys to Brooklyn, I noticed mountains of e-waste — computer systems tossed away by individuals and corporations who had no thought methods to eliminate them correctly. On the identical time, I spotted simply how many individuals on the planet (2.6 billion to be precise) do not have entry to the digital world. That is when the concept for Computer systems 4 Individuals hit me.
I made a decision to show what I would realized right into a nonprofit. Utilizing on-line tutorials, I discovered methods to incorporate, file for 501(c)(3) standing, create bylaws and get all the things up and operating. The plan was easy: Accumulate used computer systems from people and corporations, refurbish them and donate them to individuals and organizations in want. In February 2019, as a 15-year-old highschool sophomore, I formally started my mission to remove the digital divide. I have been at it ever since.
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What have been a few of the largest challenges you confronted whereas constructing Computer systems 4 Individuals, and the way did you navigate them?
One of many hardest challenges was ensuring Computer systems 4 Individuals may run sustainably with out me. Balancing college with operating the nonprofit taught me that there is actually no such factor as stability; you simply must make it work. Many individuals assumed Computer systems 4 Individuals would crumble as soon as I went to school, as most small tasks like this do. To show them unsuitable, I centered on making a stable construction the place tasks like accounting, HR and program administration have been clearly outlined. I constructed proprietary techniques to automate stock, shopper administration, donor administration and federal/state grant reporting, which helped us scale and run effectively.
Securing sufficient funding and pc donations stays an ongoing problem as we work to fulfill the overwhelming demand for our providers. With tons of of people on our ready listing, the necessity usually outpaces provide. To deal with this, we have been diversifying our funding sources, leveraging authorities grants, basis grants, particular person giving and earned income. Moreover, we’re partnering with a few of the largest Fortune 100 and 500 firms to gather their used computer systems, guaranteeing we are able to proceed successfully bridging the digital divide.
What do the group’s development and success metrics appear to be at present?
So far, we now have donated 3,668 computer systems to people in want, diverting over 55,000 kilos of digital waste from landfills. Our packages have empowered 1000’s to entry schooling, safe employment and thrive within the digital world. We have raised over $1.6 million by way of awarded grants and donations, permitting us to scale quickly and develop our staff to over a dozen full-time employees members.
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What do you get pleasure from most about engaged on this nonprofit?
I really like fixing robust issues, constructing know-how to streamline processes and dealing with a staff of mission-driven individuals all centered on the identical purpose. It is also extremely rewarding to obtain messages on daily basis in regards to the life-changing impacts of our packages and to see these outcomes mirrored in our knowledge.
What’s your recommendation for others hoping to begin a corporation that makes an affect?
Let group insights drive your options; do not begin one thing simply because it appears impactful. Guarantee your efforts create a internet constructive for the world, particularly within the nonprofit house. To start with, do not depend on others to deal with the necessities. Discover ways to handle incorporation, taxes, accounting, operations, know-how, HR and organising a board of administrators your self. It’s important to know what you are promoting and business in and out. After getting a stable basis, construct a staff that enhances your abilities and consists of individuals who excel in areas like fundraising, accrual accounting or group. Lastly, do not overthink each step: Act quick, make choices shortly and maintain transferring ahead.
This text is a part of our ongoing Younger Entrepreneur® sequence highlighting the tales, challenges and triumphs of being a younger enterprise proprietor.
