Sharing My Entrepreneurial Journey

From Code to Dreams

Let me take you back to 2012, when I first landed in Canada. It’s funny how life works – I came here as an International Student to study Computer Engineering but fell head over heels for software development and switched my focus to Computer Science. Late-night coding, turning crazy ideas into apps and sites; that was my beginning. It was more than just learning; it was about discovering my path, and guess what? It led me straight to entrepreneurship.

about the founder sayem shahid
sayemshahid - Building Community - Purpose over Profit_1500x1125-min

Purpose Over Profit

I was born in Bangladesh and my father was an entrepreneur who owned a construction business in Abu Dhabi. He wanted me to take over the business someday, but I never felt a connection with the business world. Instead, I decided to move to Canada on my own to build a new life. The transition from Abu Dhabi to Canada was more than just a change in location; it was also a shift in my mindset. While in Canada, I worked with many business leaders who were motivated by a vision that went beyond just making profits. Their dedication to making a positive impact and leaving a lasting impression on the world deeply affected my thinking. It challenged me to look beyond just earning a paycheck and to find a more meaningful and fulfilling purpose in my professional life.

Transitioning to a Full-time Business Owner

I started two businesses with partners before launching SelexWeb – one in 2015 and the other in 2019. However, both of them failed. Nevertheless, they taught me many valuable lessons that I later used in my life and business. In 2021, during the global pandemic and the Great Resignation, I had multiple stable tech jobs, which gave me a combined income of over $100k. Financially, this was enough for me to live my life comfortably. However, I quickly realized that money wasn’t everything to me. I needed something more in my life, perhaps some excitement of the unknown, and work that aligned with my passion and values. I wanted to make a difference in my community by providing maximum impact. So, I took a leap of faith and left everything I had to start SelexWeb.

My business was born out of a desire to test my limits, to see if my blend of tech skills and business insights could stand the test of entrepreneurial challenges. Although this was not my first business, it was a journey into the unknown, leading the business on my own, fueled by questions about my abilities, the value I could bring to the business world, and the true essence of success.

The idea of having my own business once terrified me, but not anymore. In the first three years of my business, I consistently achieved around 300% year-over-year growth. However, this is not the top success metric for me in business. My top success metric is how many entrepreneurs I can help and know personally in the community and the inspiring stories that got them to where they are. That’s more important to me than anything else, and these are the reasons why I wanted to be in business – to increase the impact of my work and get inspired by other leaders in the community.

Sayem Shahid - Notable Networker Award

Guiding Tomorrow's Trailblazers

This website is not just a mere collection of my experiences; it’s a guiding light for aspiring entrepreneurs. Although we all grow up with big dreams and aspirations, the harsh realities of life often make us give up on them. However, I’m here to tell you that anything is possible in life. It may sound delusional, but you already have the potential to achieve anything you set your mind to! I firmly believe that if my journey, with its ups and downs, can inspire even one person to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, then it’s a story worth sharing. This website is all about illuminating the path for those who dare to dream big and work tirelessly towards making those dreams a reality.

Stories, Tips & Insights

In this space, my goal is to share practical tips that have helped me in my business ventures and insights and stories that have changed my perspective. I want to dedicate this platform to sharing the wisdom I’ve gained from both my successes and failures. I hope you find value in these stories.