Ramadan entrepreneurs

Ramadan has so many deliberations, dimensions, and directions.

There are rituals of Ramadan.

There is the spirituality of Ramadan.

There is the consumerism of Ramadan.

There is the Islamic finance during Ramadan.

But, is there an entrepreneurship during Ramadan?

One characteristic of Ramadan is that Muslims are more open to “Islamic” consumerism or financing opportunities that allow them to “closer connect” with the faith and fellow Muslims.

May be its a way to self-reward for enduring the fast, especially during the hot summer (GCC) or long hours (Nordic countries).

It’s about getting up, getting out, getting about and going after the “Ramadan gift”.

Thus, there are Islamic finance products launched during the month, Ramadan shopping sales discount, and so on.

Muslims want to see Muslim money circulated within the Muslim community, which is now possible because of the virtual world: social media, on-line commerce and mobile-phone connectivity.

For example, during Ramadan there is a global shopping phenomenon, both off-line and increasing on-line. Muslims are making, selling and buying for family, friends and even foes. It's a bazaar environment that brings back feelings of a “world’s fair”.

For non-Muslims, a possible way of understanding is comparing to Christmas. Ramadan consumerism is like the pre-Christmas sales atmosphere, as both bring gifts on Eid-il-Fitr (marking end of fasting month) and Christmas day, especially for children.

But, is Ramadan also about entrepreneurship?

Yes.

First, 1001 Inventions, an exhibition showcasing the Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization, was launched several years ago. From the website, http://www.1001inventions.com, its states:

“The 1001 Inventions is a leading and award-winning international science and cultural heritage brand reaching over 150 million people around the world.1001 Inventions uncovers a thousand years of scientific and cultural achievements from Muslim civilisation from the 7th century onwards, and how those contributions helped create the foundations of our modern world.

“Through its award-winning educational programs, books, block-buster exhibitions, live shows, films and learning products, 1001 Inventions showcases the contributions of inspirational men and women of different faiths and cultures in a civilisation that spread from Spain to China.”

Thus, at the height of the Muslim civilisation, golden age of science and discovery, it was a technology seeder, incubator, accelerator, a silicon valley on the silk road, as invention, innovation and entrepreneurship were flourishing.

There is a saying, “it is tough to get to the top, it is more difficult to stay on top”.

But, if you did it once, can you do it again?

I, like many, have less faith in Muslim governments, Muslim millionaires and billionaires or Muslim country based companies, but more in the 500 million Muslim youths.

Ramadan spark

Fast forward today, the Ramadan spark is inspiring some to innovate and fill a gap (information) and meet the demand (for the information).

The offerings are about education, information, commerce, communication and technology, however, as an equity culture does not exist in the Muslim world, the youth’s resourceful (bootstrapping) needs to be supported with idea or prototype financed risk capital.

For example, there is a Ramadan Entrepreneur Camp (Indonesia), Ramadan Camp (Saudi Arabia), Ramadan Excellence Camp (Pakistan), and so on. Thus, these enterprising individuals are following what they see around them, Islamic summer camps in US or Islamic Montessori in Malaysia, and are offering another activity that is linked to another facet of Ramadan.

Muslim (youth) have gone high tech, and, during Ramadan, apps related for prayer times, fast starting and fast breaking-time, etc. are commonly launched. The more important question: Do they garner traffic and traction?

There is an interesting app from Google, and recently reported on engadget website:

‘The holy month of Ramadan began for Muslims this week, which includes fasting from all food and drink during the day.

In order to keep you informed of the exact times for sunrise and sunset, Google launched My Ramadan Companion.

In addition to the time info, the site also collects recipes, local restaurant listings, YouTube content and other useful items in a card-based format for easy browsing.

What's more, the site pushes its findings to Google Now so the info you need is just a few swipes away on your phone.

The digital assistant will suggest apps that can help you make the most of Ramadan – like reminding you to wake up for “sahur”.

The site is live so you can peruse as needed through the 30-day period that ends the evening of July 17th.

Google probably asked the question, where are we going to find an opportunity to tap, say, 500 million customers and where the rules of engagement are declared and defined (for Muslim lifestyle marketplace)?

Google is not picking or endorsing one religion over another. It is acknowledging a business opportunity with population of 500 million Muslim youth (and growing) under age of 30 and connected to the grid (internet) via their mobile phones.

Furthermore, in bundling, picking and packing, other Google functionalities, both the customer journey and experience become memorable, hence, higher conversion rate, loyalty, and ambassadorship.

The biggest risk will be on execution, but Google’s metadata on regions/countries about user behaviour, be it via key word search terms or analytics, allows them to measure, monitor, matrix, mitigate, and manage the risk.

Google’s might, muscle, and marketing will result in traction of the My Ramadan Companion app.

Thus, the innovation is important and welcomed, but the outcome is Muslim continue to consume, be it halal food or technology, instead of producing their own for consumption!

Ramadan wish list

I would like to see the following:

- Training and mentoring offered on coding, programming, designing, and data base management to children under age of 12 by their (Muslim) countries, especially those with high internet penetration. This is not about “hack-a-thon” session or halal-tech-challenge, but about enticing, involving, building, and deploying. They, and reduce reliance on expats, will contribute to building knowledge base economies. It's so important reduce dependencies to control your destinies.

- Smart mosque build out, whereby major mosques on the grid (internet) are connected and others are brought on-line with their own “digital mosque front”. We, at www.zilzarlife.com, have started and welcome opportunity to collaborate with like-mined people and entities. This becomes a very important undertaking in non-Muslim countries, like Japan, especially when combined with halal restaurants, halal/dry hotel, to attract Muslim travellers.

- Muslim owned/operated merchants offering products and services in the Muslim Lifestyle Marketplace, micro-enterprises and SMEs, should have digital store-fronts without charge. We may not be able to influence for a free internet for all, but we can host such entities without charge. For example, at www.zilzar.com, we have started such initiatives with Made in Penang Powered by Zilzar, Made in Mindanao Powered by Zilzar, and others at various stage of due diligence. It’s about market access, and growing entities by increasing sales. The Muslim world is littered with so many micro-enterprises, hence, C2C is an important part of inclusion, especially as fulfilment issues are addressed.

- We are “feeding fish to the Muslims (charitable donations), but we need to also teach them how to fish (most important element is venture capital)”. I hope Ramadan 2015 sparks the process of putting a VC fund company together and the disbursements are for the SMEs in silos on the Muslim lifestyle marketplace.

This wish list is long, but the more important point is we, at Zilzar Tech, are recognising the problem and then doing something about it, notwithstanding our limited resources.

“If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together,” Ratan Tata.

Lets walk far together on this journey of enfranchisement, empowerment, and inclusion to transform lives, living and lifestyles. – June 24, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.