High School Side Hustle Leads to Over $1.6 Million Raised

This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Dylan Zajac, 21, a senior at Babson Faculty. At 15, Zajac had a facet hustle thrifting and fixing computer systems. The gig impressed Zajac to discovered his nonprofit Computers 4 People, which supplies refurbished computer systems to individuals in want. Responses have been edited for size and readability.

^{Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Computer systems 4 Individuals}

When did you begin your side 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 might take the PATH practice from Hoboken after which skate from thrift retailer to thrift retailer, usually hitting three or extra in a single day. At these retailers, we would sift by means of piles of outdated electronics, looking for hidden gems. Once we discovered one thing invaluable, we would negotiate exhausting to get a deal. Some days we purchased so many computer systems we needed to stack them on our skateboards to roll them house.

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As soon as we bought the computer systems again, we would clear them up, repair them and promote them on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. Earlier than lengthy, this pastime changed into an actual enterprise. At one level, my complete 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 side hustle off the bottom? How did it evolve into the nonprofit you run now?
One of many key issues that made it attainable for me to start out my facet hustle was gaining access to a laptop computer and the web once I was in center college. I might spend hours watching YouTube tutorials on how you can refurbish computer systems and studying the ins and outs of ecommerce platforms, which helped me attain tons of of consumers, all from my bed room.

However as I bought deeper into this, I began noticing an enormous drawback. On my journeys to Brooklyn, I noticed mountains of e-waste — computer systems tossed away by individuals and corporations who had no concept how you can get rid of them correctly. On the similar time, I spotted simply how many individuals on the planet (2.6 billion to be actual) do not have entry to the digital world. That is when the concept for Computer systems 4 Individuals hit me.

I made a decision to show what I might realized right into a nonprofit. Utilizing on-line tutorials, I found out how you can incorporate, file for 501(c)(3) standing, create bylaws and get every part up and working. The plan was easy: Acquire used computer systems from people and corporations, refurbish them and donate them to individuals and organizations in want. In February 2019, as a 15-year-old highschool sophomore, I formally started my mission to remove 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 Individuals, and the way did you navigate them?
One of many hardest challenges was ensuring Computer systems 4 Individuals might run sustainably with out me. Balancing college with working the nonprofit taught me that there is actually no such factor as stability; you simply must make it work. Many individuals assumed Computer systems 4 Individuals would crumble as soon as I went to school, as most small initiatives like this do. To show them unsuitable, I centered on making a strong construction the place duties like accounting, HR and program administration had been clearly outlined. I constructed proprietary methods to automate stock, shopper administration, donor administration and federal/state grant reporting, which helped us scale and run effectively.

Securing enough funding and pc donations stays an ongoing problem as we work to satisfy the overwhelming demand for our providers. With tons of of people on our ready listing, the necessity usually outpaces provide. To deal with 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, making certain we will proceed successfully bridging the digital divide.

What do the group’s progress and success metrics appear like in the present day?
Up to now, we now have donated 3,668 computer systems to people in want, diverting over 55,000 kilos of digital waste from landfills. Our packages have empowered 1000’s to entry schooling, safe employment and thrive within the digital world. We have raised over $1.6 million by means of awarded grants and donations, permitting us to scale quickly and develop our staff to over a dozen full-time employees members.

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What do you take pleasure in most about engaged on this nonprofit?
I like fixing robust issues, constructing know-how to streamline processes and dealing with a staff of mission-driven individuals all centered on the identical objective. It is also extremely rewarding to obtain messages every single day concerning the life-changing impacts of our packages and to see these outcomes mirrored in our knowledge.

What’s your recommendation for others hoping to start out a company that makes an impression?
Let neighborhood 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 house. To start with, do not depend on others to deal with the necessities. Discover ways to handle incorporation, taxes, accounting, operations, know-how, HR and organising a board of directors your self. It is important to grasp your small business and business inside and outside. After getting a strong basis, construct a staff that enhances your abilities and consists of individuals who excel in areas like fundraising, accrual accounting or group. Lastly, do not overthink each step: Act quick, make selections rapidly and preserve shifting ahead.