Sayem Faruk
Sayem Faruk
Building a $100M startup from Bangladesh
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Sayem Faruk

2014: Co-founded Revel

2014: Co-founded Revel

At 21, I started Revel with a few school friends. It was an e-commerce and retail venture selling export-surplus merchandise. I invested my hard-earned tuition money to get it off the ground. I designed the logo, managed digital marketing, and handled procurement. We ran it for four years, and it taught me more about business, grit, and execution than any course ever could - a true masterclass in getting started.

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2025: Three years into Airwork

2025: Three years into Airwork

Three years in, Airwork has grown from a scrappy idea into a global recruiting engine - connecting over 200 companies
2022: Launched Airwork

2022: Launched Airwork

Airwork began as a passion project during the pandemic — back when I’d lost nearly all my savings after COVID.

2020: COVID hit

Alpha had grown to a 40-person team when COVID struck. We fought to survive for a year and a half,
2016: Co-founded Alpha

2016: Co-founded Alpha

My friend Asif and I co-founded Alpha Catering to shake up Bangladesh’s catering scene. What started as a bold
2012: Got into IBA

2012: Got into IBA

Getting into IBA, University of Dhaka was a turning point - the acceptance rate was just 1.2%. It opened
A teenage Sayem Faruk

2010: Moved to Dhaka, the capital

At 17, I left for Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, with one suitcase and a head full of dreams. Stayed