Getting to Know: Sanjin Zeco
Co-Founder of BlueScout Inc
As a sustainability agent, environmental advocate and technology enthusiast, Sanjin Zeco prides himself on more than financial stability, but also the ability to make change. “I’m an entrepreneur that wants to create more than just money, but also use business principles to create positive impact for social and environmental issues of the time — a new type of business called a social enterprise,” he explains.
An issue such as accessibility in social environments has also given Sanjin the drive to co-found his own social enterprise, BlueScout Inc. “I live with Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) and I was frustrated how hard it is to find accessible places and public transit routes that meet my specific needs. So I decided it’s time to create a solution that addresses this problem head-on,” he says.”I have gained significant academic experience — B.Comm. from Ryerson [University] and Master of Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo. I worked in a corporate setting for a while but found these companies lacking a mission I identify with. I also got caught in the phenomena of precarious employment, so I decided to explore social entrepreneurship to potentially start my own social enterprise,” Sanjin continues.
As he continues to grow his business, Sanjin expresses how the need to balance personal and business needs, as well as creating a team that suits you and your company best, is necessary to be successful, “otherwise you will not have enough energy to focus on improving the business,” he states. Sanjin also says that extensive research is needed to validate your business idea, and perhaps, even evolve that same idea.
“I would say to do more market research and actually interview your potential users and paying customer segments. Also, don’t get too attached to your initial idea because chances are you will have to pivot based on market validation,” he states. With growth on his mind, Sanjin expects that BlueScout Inc will soon be available on a mobile app, but for now, you can learn more about this business by directly contacting @SanjinZeco on Twitter or find him on LinkedIn.
Story written by Erin Ashley
Sanjin is a participant in the Hook It Up program delivered by Socent7. Hook It Up is a support program for young social entrepreneurs in Ontario. Learn more at www.hookitup.ca.
*END OF PROGRAM UPDATE** Sanjin has incorporated, set up his web presence, and build the skills and networks to support his venture. His message to other young entrepreneurs: “The business technical aspects are actually not the most important. First you have to see if you have what it takes to start and build a social enterprise — so I recommend to completing some training workshops and joining networks of social entrepreneurs to unearth your personal leadership, confidence, and resilience. Second, mentors are very important. Find one or two key mentors to bounce ideas off and build your enterprise. Maybe don’t go at it alone — find one or two people to partner up with to leverage each other’s strengths.”
