This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Dylan Zajac, 21, a senior at Babson School. At 15, Zajac had a aspect hustle thrifting and fixing computer systems. The gig impressed Zajac to discovered his nonprofit Computer systems 4 Folks, which gives refurbished computer systems to folks in want. Responses have been edited for size and readability.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Computer systems 4 Folks
When did you begin your aspect 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 pals, simply as a enjoyable pastime. We would take the PATH prepare from Hoboken after which skate from thrift retailer to thrift retailer, usually hitting three or extra in a single day. At these outlets, we might sift by piles of outdated electronics, looking for hidden gems. Once we discovered one thing priceless, we might negotiate laborious to get a deal. Some days we purchased so many computer systems we needed to stack them on our skateboards to roll them dwelling.
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As soon as we received the computer systems again, we might clear them up, repair them and promote them on Fb Market or eBay. Earlier than lengthy, this pastime changed into an actual enterprise. At one level, my whole bed room was stuffed with random desktops and Apple PowerBooks. The margins had been insane, generally as excessive as 80%!
What had been a few of the first steps you took to get your aspect hustle off the bottom? How did it evolve into the nonprofit you run now?
One of many key issues that made it doable for me to start out my aspect hustle was accessing a laptop computer and the web after I was in center faculty. I would spend hours watching YouTube tutorials on how one can refurbish computer systems and studying the ins and outs of ecommerce platforms, which helped me attain a whole lot of shoppers, all from my bed room.
However as I received deeper into this, I began noticing an enormous downside. On my journeys to Brooklyn, I noticed mountains of e-waste — computer systems tossed away by folks and firms who had no concept how one can eliminate them correctly. On the identical time, I noticed simply how many individuals on the earth (2.6 billion to be precise) do not have entry to the digital world. That is when the thought for Computer systems 4 Folks hit me.
I made a decision to show what I would realized right into a nonprofit. Utilizing on-line tutorials, I found out how one can incorporate, file for 501(c)(3) standing, create bylaws and get all the pieces up and working. The plan was easy: Accumulate used computer systems from people and firms, refurbish them and donate them to folks and organizations in want. In February 2019, as a 15-year-old highschool sophomore, I formally started my mission to eradicate the digital divide. I have been at it ever since.
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What had been a few of the largest challenges you confronted whereas constructing Computer systems 4 Folks, and the way did you navigate them?
One of many hardest challenges was ensuring Computer systems 4 Folks might run sustainably with out me. Balancing faculty with working the nonprofit taught me that there is actually no such factor as steadiness; you simply must make it work. Many individuals assumed Computer systems 4 Folks would disintegrate as soon as I went to school, as most small tasks like this do. To show them flawed, I centered on making a strong construction the place obligations like accounting, HR and program administration had 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 companies. With a whole lot of people on our ready record, the necessity usually outpaces provide. To handle 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 progress and success metrics seem like in the present day?
Up to now, we’ve donated 3,668 computer systems to people in want, diverting over 55,000 kilos of digital waste from landfills. Our applications have empowered hundreds to entry schooling, safe employment and thrive within the digital world. We have raised over $1.6 million by awarded grants and donations, permitting us to scale quickly and develop our group to over a dozen full-time workers members.
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What do you get pleasure from most about engaged on this nonprofit?
I like fixing powerful issues, constructing expertise to streamline processes and dealing with a group of mission-driven folks all centered on the identical purpose. It is also extremely rewarding to obtain messages on daily basis concerning the life-changing impacts of our applications and to see these outcomes mirrored in our knowledge.
What’s your recommendation for others hoping to start out a corporation that makes an influence?
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 area. At first, do not depend on others to deal with the necessities. Learn to handle incorporation, taxes, accounting, operations, expertise, HR and organising a board of administrators your self. It is vital to grasp your enterprise and business inside and outside. After you have a strong basis, construct a group that enhances your expertise and contains individuals who excel in areas like fundraising, accrual accounting or group. Lastly, do not overthink each step: Act quick, make selections rapidly and maintain shifting ahead.
This text is a part of our ongoing Younger Entrepreneur® collection highlighting the tales, challenges and triumphs of being a younger enterprise proprietor.
