Career Journey & Background

In 2014, Mashrur Shurid began working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh as a contractual protocol aid. However, Shurid soon realized the bureaucratic nature of his position did not align with his aspirations, which led to his transition toward entrepreneurship. He established E-lab in 2015, a third-party Research and Development (R&D) entity dedicated to supporting local and international clients in their electronic development projects. The venture evolved into a company specializing in hardware equipment manufacturing and comprehensive R&D services. By 2017, Shurid was ready to explore new ventures, this time, focusing on addressing inefficiencies within the agricultural supply chain.

After a failed startup attempt at supplying agricultural produce in Dhaka marketplaces, Shurid identified critical issues hindering the growth of this sector; such as access to finance, market, and input services, and a significant gap in actionable information for farmers. He designed a soil testing device prototype that could provide actionable data within 30 minutes, conceptualizing iPage. 

Refining the Vision: iPage’s Approach

Shurid's experiences taught him the importance of listening to the customer's needs rather than imposing what he believed was the right product. He focused on providing services and contributing to the AgTech ecosystem in a way that directly benefitted farmers, rather than simply selling them equipment. He also recognized that trying to be an expert in every domain was not feasible. iPage’s approach of delegating and outsourcing, equipping NGO partners as franchises, and penetrating the market efficiently without unnecessary expenditure marked a significant pivot from past endeavors.

Creating a conducive work environment where mutual respect among team members and founders is paramount became a foundational principle for iPage. Shurid aimed to dismantle the prevailing mentality that often led to underappreciation within teams, focusing on talent acquisition and retention by offering both financial and growth benefits to individuals. Building a respectful and rewarding company culture was crucial in navigating the challenges of integrating technology with traditional farming practices.

Overcoming Ethnographic Challenges

Coming from a family with a strong agricultural background, Shurid is familiar with the resistance traditional farmers exhibit when adopting new technologies. iPage's strategy to overcome this involved a hands-on approach. This included providing free advisory services and offering field trial deals to demonstrate the benefits of agricultural digitization. By implementing a thorough capacity-building model and connecting farmers to banks, insurance companies, and buyers, iPage aims to foster trust and engagement within farming communities while also capturing valuable data for sustainable growth.

The Road Ahead: iPage's Vision

With a goal to expand globally and capture 2% of the market in the next five years, Shurid envisions iPage as a pioneer in the agricultural data sector, offering resources such as soil maps and weather heat maps to both B2B and B2G clients. 

Shurid's advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is a testament to his journey: persistence and consistency are key. Acknowledging the sacrifices and endless work hours that come with entrepreneurship, he emphasizes that success awaits those who remain steadfast in their pursuit. "Luck always favors the persistent ones," Shurid notes, encouraging emerging entrepreneurs to stay focused on their goals despite the inevitable challenges and failures along the way.

_{Interviewed by Ameera Fairooz 
Written by Parisa Omar}