Meet Hasnaeen Rizvi Rahman | Founder & CEO at Astha IT, Serial Entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, Venture Builder, Startup Advisor, Technologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hasnaeen Rizvi Rahman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hasnaeen Rizvi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My childhood dream was to become a mathematician and unravel the mysteries of the universe. The dream took a different turn when my father bought me a computer during my ninth grade. In that same year, I began to dabble in programming with a book on the BASIC language, writing various programs with great enthusiasm. It was like an adventure, learning one programming language after another. When I enrolled in the computer science department at North South University in 2001, I had become proficient in 4-5 programming languages, and I sold my first commercial software to a merchandizing house. The dream had actually begun to take shape then.

In 2005, after completing my Bachelor’s degree, I joined a Netherlands-based software company as a programmer. A year later, I got a job in another good American company. In 2007, while still employed at this second company, I decided to pursue my Master’s abroad and went to Sweden. Thus, I enrolled in the Master of Interaction Design program at Chalmers University of Technology located in the city of Gothenburg, taking another step towards my dream.

The decision to leave a good job with a high salary and move to Sweden was actually a bad one for me. There were various personal and familial reasons behind it. One “fun” reason I can mention is that I went to do Masters in hardcore programming with 7 years of experience. When I went there, I found that the technical knowledge and skills of the teachers who were teaching my class were much, much less than mine. As a result, I quickly became disappointed and started attending classes irregularly.

Instead, I started doing what I have always loved – coding. I used to freelance in the dorm room and gave interviews at various companies. At one point, I got a job at a world-famous Opera browser company, but unfortunately (or fortunately!), it didn’t work out and I didn’t go there. Within a few days, I received an offer to create two major products for a Swedish company, and I started working on them.

And right at that moment, an idea popped up in my head. If I create these two products while staying in Bangladesh and hire some extra coders with a portion of the budget, then everyone benefits! I can stay with my family and enjoy the profits, while my clients get their work done at the lowest possible cost and in the shortest possible time.

I was able to easily explain the benefits of offshore development to my clients, and within a few days, I was back in Bangladesh. Upon returning, I hired a skilled programmer friend of mine and started the product development work together.

In 2008, Astha IT was born just like that. I was only twenty-five years old then. After successfully completing the first client’s work, we continued to get work from various clients in different countries as references, and our company grew bigger.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Astha IT is a global tech company that has been operating for 15 years. Founded in 2008, the company specializes in providing top-rated and vetted coding talent for scalable solution development. Astha IT has helped governments, large-scale enterprises, and startups build successful products that users love, with clients spanning four continents and industries such as FinTech, EdTech, Retail, and Web3.

With over 500 highly qualified and pre-vetted resources who specialize in different tech stacks, Astha IT’s team works remotely as an extension to some of the largest brands in the world. The company’s greatest achievement to date has been the creation of a massively scalable Application Platform as a Service (aPaaS) powered by a set of distributedly running microservices on the cloud, enabling customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the typical complexities associated with app development and launch.

Astha IT is proud to be an AWS partner and an ISO 9001:2015 (QMS) certified software development company. The company has received awards from the Government of Bangladesh for being the top software exporting company in 2013, 2014, and 2020.

With over 50 large global clients and 600+ large-scale projects and 2000+ small and medium-sized projects, Astha IT has built a reputation as a trusted partner for businesses looking to develop high-quality software solutions.

As a bootstrapped and self-funded company, Astha IT’s success is a result of hard work, dedication, and partnerships with individuals and organizations. The company’s philosophy centers around the importance of networking, having a clear goal, and creating a self-running structure. With a global presence, including subsidiaries and branches in Sweden, Astha IT continues to drive innovation and offer exceptional services to its clients.

At Astha IT, we believe in the power of networking and partnerships. We have collaborated with different individuals and organizations over the years to grow and expand our reach. We have learned that networking is key to building relationships and securing new business opportunities.

Having a goal is also necessary for success. Our goal has always been to provide top-quality solutions that meet the needs of our clients. This has driven us to continuously improve our services and adapt to changing market trends.

Creating a self-running structure is a must for any business to sustain itself in the long run. We have built a team of highly skilled professionals who work collaboratively to achieve our goals. Our commitment to creating a self-sustaining structure has helped us remain profitable and cash-positive throughout our 15-year history.

We are proud of what we have accomplished so far and look forward to continuing to provide top-quality solutions to our clients in the years to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in two cities, New York, USA and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Here are some ideas for a week-long trip in both New York and Dhaka:

New York City:

Day 1:

Start with a visit to the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, followed by a stroll through Battery Park
Take a walk through the famous Wall Street and visit the New York Stock Exchange
For dinner, head to one of the many amazing restaurants in Little Italy, such as Lombardi’s Pizza or Da Nico

Day 2:

Take a morning walk through Central Park and visit the famous Central Park Zoo
After lunch, head to the American Museum of Natural History to learn about the history of our planet
In the evening, catch a Broadway show or a performance at the Lincoln Center

Day 3:

Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to pay your respects to the victims of the tragic event
Take a walk through the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and enjoy the stunning views of the city skyline
For dinner, check out some of the amazing food and drinks in Williamsburg, such as the famous Brooklyn Brewery or Lilia restaurant

Day 4:

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to experience some of the world’s most amazing art collections
Head to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck for some of the best views of New York City
In the evening, catch a sports game or a concert at Madison Square Garden

Dhaka, Bangladesh:

Day 1:

Start with a visit to the historic Lalbagh Fort and its beautiful gardens
Head to the Ahsan Manzil Museum to learn about the history of the Nawabs of Dhaka
For dinner, check out some of the local cuisine at Fakruddin Biriyani or Star Kabab

Day 2:

Visit the National Museum of Bangladesh to learn about the rich cultural history of the country
Head to the Dhakeshwari Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in the country
In the evening, take a boat ride on the Buriganga River and enjoy the stunning views of the city

Day 3:

Take a day trip to the historic city of Sonargaon and visit the ancient ruins of the Panam City
Enjoy a traditional Bengali lunch at Panam City
In the evening, check out some of the local markets such as the New Market or Bashundhara City

Day 4:

Visit the stunning Star Mosque and admire its intricate mosaic designs
Head to the Liberation War Museum to learn about Bangladesh’s struggle for independence
For dinner, check out some of the amazing food and drinks in Gulshan, such as the rooftop restaurant at Le Meridien Dhaka or The Westin Dhaka’s Seasonal Tastes.

These are just a few ideas, but there are many more amazing places and things to do in both New York and Dhaka that would be sure to give your friend a great time!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I reflect on my journey and the milestones I’ve achieved, it’s clear to me that my success is not solely my own doing. Along the way, there have been many people who have supported me, encouraged me, and mentored me, each contributing in their own way to my growth and development.

First and foremost, I must give credit to my parents, who have been my rock and my inspiration since day one. They instilled in me a strong work ethic, a passion for learning, and a sense of purpose that has guided me throughout my life. Their unwavering love and support has been a constant source of strength, even in the toughest of times.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to my wife, who has been my partner, confidant, and cheerleader. Her unwavering belief in me and her constant encouragement have helped me to push past my limits and achieve things I never thought possible. Her sacrifices and selflessness have allowed me to pursue my dreams and ambitions with confidence and determination.

In addition to my family, there have been many others who have played a significant role in my success. My grandparents, for example, instilled in me a deep appreciation for education and a respect for tradition and culture. My math teacher, Mr. Kemal Reza, saw something in me that I didn’t even know existed and challenged me to reach for the stars. His mentorship and guidance helped me to discover my love for math and set me on a path towards a career in technology.

And finally, there have been friends and relatives who have supported me along the way, offering their time, advice, and encouragement when I needed it most. Their kindness and generosity have helped to lift me up and keep me moving forward.

All of these people have played a critical role in my journey, and I am deeply grateful for their contributions. Without their support, I would not be where I am today, and for that, I dedicate my shoutout to each and every one of them.

Website: www.asthait.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hasnaeen

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrrahman/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/hasnaeen

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hasnaeen

Other: www.hasnaeen.me