Tahmid Zaman
Onnow

What inspired you to start your own business?

I lived across multiple continents in the last 10 years and have been a proficient home cook since 2012. Given my professional expertise in technology and digital marketing, combined with my passion for cooking, I decided to enter the food-tech space.

What is the best part of running your own business?

Driving impact through job creation and improving the well-being of society.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced running your own business and how did you overcome it?

We struggled in ensuring continuous innovation in our product line - we weren't having the optimum growth as planned. As this is a core function of the company, we on-boarded a new co-founder who is a genius in this domain.

What is your 5 year vision for the business?

Empower 1,000 kitchens and serve 200,000 people per day

What is the one piece of advice you would give to anyone wanting to start their own business?

Nothing is more important than starting with a solid team of co-founders who have the experience, knowledge and passion in their respective functions.

Were there any key moments during your time at NUBS which ignited your entrepreneurial spirit? 

In my third year at Newcastle University, I had the opportunity to lead a team of highly motivated students to compete in the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing's annual student competition. Our goal was to showcase our expertise in digital marketing, and we were determined to make a lasting impression on the judges.

After months of hard work and preparation, we made it to the top four finalists of the competition. Our big day finally arrived, and we travelled to Google's headquarters in London to pitch our ideas to the judges. They commented that our report was of such high quality that it looked like it had been created by a professional marketing agency.

The experience was a turning point for me, as it solidified my desire to pursue a career in digital marketing. I realized that I had a passion for this field and wanted to explore it further. Looking back, I am grateful for the opportunity that Newcastle University Business School provided me. The support and guidance that I received from my professors and peers were invaluable, and I would not have been able to achieve this level of success without them.

Overall, this journey taught me the importance of teamwork, dedication, and hard work. It showed me that with the right mindset and resources, anything is possible. I am excited to see where my passion for digital marketing will take me in the future, and I will always be grateful for the lessons and experiences that I gained through this competition.