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Algotech Gadget Stop: Gadgets Within Reach on Campus

Adh-Dhikr Press introduces Rising Tide, a new series promoting student entrepreneurs. In this first edition, we feature Algotech Gadget Stop, a campus-based gadget store founded by Bello Dahood, a student of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering at the University of Ibadan. In this interview, Dahood opens up on building a gadget store within the University community, the challenges of student entrepreneurship, and his business philosophy.



Adh-Dhikr: To start with, what inspired you to establish Algotech Gadget Stop, and what gap were you hoping to fill within the University of Ibadan community and its environs?

Algotech: The brand is actually Algotech Gadget Stop; in essence, where your search for the perfect gadget stops. The inspiration came from longing for independence. Ain't a commerce man but Islam needs men's contributions religiously. And as they say: when there's a need and willingness then the path is set. The gap sat on the fact that there are many techies in our prestigious university but the gadget market in this compound isn't stable. There needs to be a go-to haven for it. That's where the thought of Algotech came in. Hopefully, it will one day erase both the stress and fear our people in this compound are going through.

Adh-Dhikr: At the early stage, what was Algotech Gadget Stop like compared to what it has grown into today?

Algotech: It was actually like a desert being drilled for water to quench a thirst. We now have a meandering stream but the goal is a reservoir that serves countless fountains.

Adh-Dhikr: As a student of Agricultural Engineering, how did your academics influence the way you approach business decisions and problem-solving?

Algotech: Engineering is just solving problems in the most lazy ways. That's engineering in layman's term. Business is problem. The more problem you solve, the bigger it grows and the more problematic it becomes. That's the mindset. Being used to solving problems made it easy to be resilient in the field of entrepreneurship because it's typically the same thing but just being done in a different manner.

Adh-Dhikr: Over time, what systems, values, or principles have helped you sustain consistency and build trust among your customers?

Algotech: As for consistency, knowing that success is tied to two different things: clearly defining one's goal and maintaining it. The maintenance also sits on unwavering persistence and calculated flexibility. The goal is known. If the only barrier between the current situation and actualising it is maintaining the goal then it will be wise to do so, at all cost. The mine is worth the sweat, it only takes time to smelt.
As for trust, it follows the suit once there's transparency. One just needs to be transparent to people even when it hurts. Everyone knows that if you can be honest with me when it hurts you then I can actually trust you.

Adh-Dhikr: Like many student entrepreneurs, what major challenges or pitfalls have you faced during the course of business, and how were you able to overcome them?

Algotech: The affluent say: a perfect plan won't need money to survive. I'd say: Yes, even though the timeline shall differ. Also, I've heard many elites saying: If your business requires you to be present then you don't own the business, it owns you. The goal is automating the whole system and the barriers include lack of people who trust the blueprint so they contribute monetarily and enough people to be trusted with the blueprint even though this may not be a major hindrance. Overcoming this barrier is gradual. Over time, the dots shall be connected and the line shall be revealed. Another pothole is products being faulty. Used products can't be free from that. What matters is the sense of responsibility and clear communication leading to mutual agreement on terms before and after sales. I also invented check-up messaging to address that, thereby giving people the actual feeling of being cared for instead of their money. And the list goes on...

Adh-Dhikr: In the midst of these challenges, how do you manage the demands of academics, entrepreneurship, and leadership responsibilities simultaneously with little or no interference?

Algotech: As mentioned earlier, flexibility is important when discipline is in place. The ability to put things in place on the go makes the possibility. Regardless, the goal of the business is automation as the sweetness of perpetual learning supersedes that of transactions.

Adh-Dhikr: Looking beyond profit, what impact do you think Algotech Gadget Stop has had on individuals?

Algotech: Alhamdulillah. The peace of mind and being sure of what you're getting lags behind nothing in business. The feat achieved lies in being able to bring what's needed to people thereby alleviating the stress of the search without compromising the quality being sought. If the real dream is to be achieved, I believe the system should revolutionise how adapting students and lecturers shall be in response to the ongoing rapid technological advancement.

Adh-Dhikr: Moving forward, what are your plans for Algotech Gadget Stop within and beyond the University of Ibadan and its environs?

Algotech: The major plan is to bridge the gap being experienced by my peers and our tutors in this compound and then other campuses. People should have the right to access their desired gadgets immediately. We have people with the required skills to compete with the world from this corner and the dream is to nullify the inaccessibility to what it takes to do so.

Adh-Dhikr: On a final note, what advice would you give to Muslim students who hope to combine entrepreneurship, leadership, and academics successfully?

Algotech: Life doesn't have a script. Some can multitask while others can only survive on a laser focus. Define your goal distinctly and go after it distinctively. Discipline is important to survive such a scenario and losing people and friends is inevitable. It's just the normal ecdysis. If you can multitask and completely discipline yourself then you can do it. Hence, the one million question is not if you can but if you will.