How I built a platform of 100,000 users

Founder, Enolej
Bangladesh
17 Years
I’m Md. Ashraf Uddin Khan and I'm 17 years old. Enolej is a youth-driven platform promoting positivity and creating social impact through education, student empowerment, and climate action.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I was inspired to start Enolej by a desire to spread positivity and address societal challenges, particularly in education and climate action. Growing up, I saw the potential of youth to drive change and wanted to create a platform where young minds could collaborate and make a meaningful impact.

How did you go from idea to product? Take us through your process of starting and building your business.
Starting Enolej was a journey driven by passion and a commitment to create a positive impact. The idea originated when I realized the challenges students in my community faced, such as limited access to quality education and insufficient awareness of pressing issues like climate change. At just 12 years old, while in class 7, I decided to act on this vision. My process of launching was as follows -
Ideation Phase: The first step was defining the purpose of Enolej; to promote positivity and empower youth through education and action. I brainstormed with peers, teachers, and mentors to refine the concept and identify areas where the platform could make a real difference. Education, climate action, and youth empowerment became the core focus areas.
Laying the Foundation: To bring the idea to life, I began with basic research on platforms that addressed similar challenges. With a clear vision, I learned programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP to build the platform from scratch. Initially, I created a simple website that served as a resource hub for educational materials, motivational content, and interactive forums.
Launch and Growth: The official launch of Enolej in 2019 marked a turning point. Early outreach focused on friends, classmates, and local communities. Social media played a vital role in spreading the word, allowing us to connect with more like-minded individuals. Over time, we organized workshops, webinars, and campaigns on education and climate awareness, which helped build credibility and attract more members.
Scaling Up: As interest grew, I focused on scaling the platform by collaborating with educators, NGOs, and youth organizations. By involving volunteers and leveraging feedback, we improved our services and expanded our reach. Today, Enolej has over 100,000 registered members in Bangladesh, fostering a community of changemakers.
Challenges and Lessons: Building Enolej came with its challenges—balancing studies, overcoming resource constraints, and maintaining momentum. However, these obstacles taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of teamwork.
Future Vision: Enolej is now a thriving platform, but the journey is far from over. The vision is to expand globally, integrate more innovative tools, and continue inspiring youth to take action for a better future.
How did you grow your business? And get your first customers?
Growing Enolej from a small initiative to a platform with over 100,000 members in Bangladesh required a combination of strategic planning, community building, and leveraging digital tools. Here’s a breakdown of the growth journey:
1. Focusing on a Clear Mission - From the outset, Enolej's mission—to empower youth through education, climate action, and positivity—resonated with people. Keeping the mission clear helped attract like-minded individuals and organizations who supported our vision. By solving real problems, such as limited educational resources and a lack of climate awareness, we ensured our platform had meaningful impact.
2. Building an Online Presence - Social media played a pivotal role in growing Enolej. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allowed us to connect with a wider audience, share our mission, and promote our activities. Regular posts featuring educational content, motivational stories, and updates on campaigns engaged and retained followers.
3. Organizing Events and Campaigns - Workshops, webinars, and local events were instrumental in spreading awareness about Enolej. For instance, organizing educational sessions for students and hosting climate awareness campaigns helped establish credibility and trust within the community. Each event attracted new participants who often became loyal members of the platform.
4. Collaborating with Partners - Collaborations with schools, teachers, NGOs, and youth organizations amplified our reach. Partnering with educators allowed us to host workshops and share resources with students. Collaborating with NGOs enabled us to run impactful climate action campaigns, further boosting our visibility and reputation.
5. Leveraging Word of Mouth - Satisfied members and participants became ambassadors for Enolej. Positive word-of-mouth referrals were a powerful way to grow, as people trusted recommendations from friends and family. This organic growth strategy significantly expanded our network.
6. Engaging with the Community - Consistently engaging with members was key to retaining them. Through surveys, feedback sessions, and interactive forums, we ensured members felt heard and valued. Listening to their needs and adapting our offerings strengthened their loyalty.
7. Scaling Through Volunteers - To manage growth, I recruited passionate volunteers who shared Enolej's mission. They took on roles such as event management, content creation, and outreach, allowing us to scale our activities and maintain consistent engagement.
8. Tracking and Adapting Strategies - Monitoring engagement metrics, event participation, and social media analytics helped us identify what worked and what didn’t. Adapting strategies based on these insights ensured sustained growth.
9. Providing Value - Enolej’s ability to provide free, accessible, and impactful resources made it valuable to users. By consistently delivering on our promise to empower and educate, we built a loyal and growing member base.
Through these strategies, Enolej grew into a thriving platform that inspires and empowers youth, while continuously expanding its reach and impact.
What are the lessons you have learned?
1. Clarity of Vision: A clear mission helps align efforts and attract like-minded individuals.
2. Resilience: Challenges are inevitable, but persistence and adaptability are key to overcoming them.
3. Community Matters: Engaging with and listening to your audience builds trust and loyalty
4. Collaboration Amplifies Impact: Partnerships with individuals and organizations can significantly boost reach and effectiveness.
5. Continuous Learning: Staying open to feedback and adapting ensures sustained growth and relevance.
6. Consistency is Crucial: Regular efforts, no matter how small, build momentum over time.
Are you looking to hire anyone?
Yes, Enolej is always looking to expand its team to support our growing initiatives. Currently, we are looking for passionate individuals in the following positions:
1. Content Creators
2. Community Engagement Coordinators
3. Web Developers
4. Marketing and Outreach Specialists
5. Graphic Designers
These positions are ideal for individuals passionate about education, climate action, and youth empowerment, with a desire to contribute to a meaningful cause.
Where can we find you?
Book Recommendations
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Start with Why by Simon Sinek
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The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
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Atomic Habits by James Clear
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Zero to One by Peter Thiel
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Grit by Angela Duckworth

Podcast Recommendations
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How I Built This by Guy Raz
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The Tim Ferriss Show
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The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
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The Smart Passive Income Podcast by Pat Flynn
