_______How It All Started

Wafflin' Around! Known for its waffles,

ice cream, and coffee, had its humble

beginnings as a student-led venture. _

As the passion project of two innovative student-entrepreneurs, Shahzain Ali and Fatima Mahmood, it capitalised on the craze for waffles, and the untapped potential of dessert items at campus. As a result, it was an instant success! Breaking even in just a week, the business took off immediately.

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What started off as a single single food kiosk at IBA, has now gone on to sell its waffles at other campuses for various events, and is now planning to open its outlets outside its home campus soon.

The Brains Behind the Success

Shahzain Ali

In the final year of his Bachelors Degree in Computer Science at IBA, he was the one to originally propose the idea of starting Wafflin' Around.

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Brought up with an entrepreneurial spirit, Shahzain always knew he wanted to start his own innovative business. Even during his O'Levels, he had tried his hand at opening a tuition centre to teach and earn for himself. The drive to make something of his own was further aided by his competitive nature, which compelled him into sports and video games. Leading to him becoming the sports captain in his early days, as well as winning video-game tournaments during his time at Cedar College.

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He got his early education from the Bahria School System, shifting from one Bahria location to the other over the course of his early life. Upon witnessing the incredible success achieved by a local ice cream shop located near his school, he was impressed and aspired to not only replicate it, but to surpass it! This inspiration and competitive spirit is what led to the birth of Wafflin' Around.

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Fatima Mahmood

Also in the final year of her Bachelors Degree in Computer Science at IBA, she was immediately ready to work on Wafflin' Around, and lent her strengths to bring the idea to fruition!

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Academically gifted, and steadfast in her studies, Fatima aced through her early years studying at Mama Parsi's all-girls school. Her academic valour, integrity, and ability to work hard earned her many achievements, and allowed her to pave her way to IBA. Here, she enrolled for a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and Finance, eventually switching over to Computer Science to better pursue her dreams.

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While she did not possess an early interest in becoming an entrepreneur, she always possessed the skills and diligence needed to do so.

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During her first job at a school for autistic children, working alongside Shahzain, she learnt the necessary skills to maintain the finances and records for any organisation. But most importantly, she learnt that her ambition lay far beyond a simple nine-to-five job. She craved the independence and satisfaction of running her own business, igniting the entrepreneurial spirit within her.

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This primed her to immediately embark on the journey to bring Wafflin' Around to life as soon as the opportunity arose!

How It Began

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As any entrepreneurial venture, Wafflin' Around took a lot of time, investment and hard work to start. Nothing can be done without its fair share of hard work, and starting your own business with little prior experience requires a lot of it.

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By the time Shahzain and Fatima were in the final year of their degrees, they both understood that they were not cut out for mere office-work, and that they wanted to start a business eventually.

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This thought existed as a few vague ideas, including selling ice-cream near school areas, a lucrative business which Shahzain knew from experience. But when he noticed an email from the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) at IBA, about a potential food kiosk available for students to operate, he knew what had to be done.

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Wafflin' Around took shape, as Shahzain brought the idea to Fatima, and they combined ice-cream with the recent craze for waffles, in order to capitalise on IBA's student community, who already faced limited dessert options on campus. At the time they did not know how they would do it, but that they were willing to learn and put in the hard work. Little did they know, this would pay off incredibly in the near future.

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The deadline to apply for the food kiosk was on the very same day, so the initial idea had to be finalised immediately. This was simply a prelude to the type of last minute problem-solving that they would have to get used to if they wanted to succeed.

The Journey

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Once the idea was proposed and approved, the real challenge began. Shahzain and Fatima both remember the two weeks before opening their kiosk, as the most work intensive weeks of their lives. They had entered the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and with it, they faced its challenges.

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Initially, they had to get the kiosk ready and in shape for the opening, as well as purchase all the necessary equipment for their success. Armed with their combined life savings of Rs. 400,000 they were tasked with first repairing the existing food kiosk they got from IBA. The roof was riddled with holes, and the kiosk lied bare with no paint, electricity, or running water.

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They learnt many lessons during this stage, such as the need to always be available at the kiosk, to watch over the work so that it gets done right. They learnt this after they found the kiosk with paint strewn around and the can stowed away next to the freezer, by a painter who did not know what exactly to do.

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Shahzain recalls that during these two weeks, he had to go to markets in Karachi that he never knew existed, all to gather the right materials and people to set up the new kiosk. Meanwhile Fatima perfected her craft by spending an entire week making and eating nothing but waffles; To the extent that she can no longer stand the taste of waffles herself.

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Their biggest fear at the time was whether or not their venture would get any customers, and whether they would be successful or not. They had invested all their savings, and they wanted to see a return. In total, they spent about Rs. 100,000 on repairing the kiosk, another Rs. 150,000 on the the fixed assets, and the the remaining money went towards raw ingredients, tupperware, promotional material, and other miscellaneous items.

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After their weeks of endless labour, came the opening day: The moment of truth.

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An immediate success! Running through their stock at an alarming pace, Wafflin' Around broke even in just their first week of operations. The risk that Fatima and Shahzain took immediately paid off. However their work did not end here, now it was their task to maintain the success.

Outlook For The Future

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Wafflin' Around now maintains steady sales these days, earning Shahzain and Fatima a steady stream of revenue. With its earnings, the business has managed to grow further and expand its menu to offer a variety of beverages including several different types of hot and cold coffees as well as hot chocolate. Additionally, Shahzain and Fatima have worked hard to secure important B2B connections with their suppliers, in order to further lower their sourcing costs, and boost profits.

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They have taken to other campuses as well, appearing in other universities and colleges for events, where they boast extraordinary sales and success! This is a source of much pride and joy to the founders, who emphasized how surreal it felt the first time they were able to sell out at an event.

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Following this line of expansion, Fatima and Shahzain are now looking to move beyond just events, and open actual outlets at other universities. But their aims are much higher than this, as they hope to one day open their outlets outside of universities and into food streets and other popular locations as well!

Key Takeaways And Lessons

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The story of Shahzain and Fatima is one of many that serves to inspire us to create something of our own and to take risks, because the rewards are worth it. To understand their main motivation for taking up such risks, we must understand their general philosophy for life itself, that is: The pursuit of Happiness!

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When asked why they were willing to take such a risk, Shahzain and Fatima replied that, their goal from their entrepreneurial ventures is to grow them to such a scale that they form a steady and sustainable revenue stream, which will give them the freedom to focus on what they want to do, and be happier for it.

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They specify three key traits needed in a successful entrepreneur:

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Loyalty: Being loyal to the business, your employee, the people you work with, and your family, knowing that you have responsibilities towards them, and being available to them at any time of the day.

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Respectfulness: Being respectful to all the people you interact with, taking care of their needs, as this always comes back to help you as well.

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Hustle: Willing to work hard and long for your goals, and having the courage to achieve them!_

Message For Other Aspiring Entrepreneurs

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According to the founders of Wafflin' Around, Entrepreneurs are made not born. Entrepreneurship is but a mindset, which anyone can embody given the right circumstances and nurture. And as such, it is something that can be learnt and honed as well. So seize the opportunity when it presents itself, take the risk, and try your hand at doing something new and innovative.

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They advise the best possible thing for any aspiring entrepreneur is to plan out their every step, as it lets you think further and minimise your risk. You don't need a perfect plan that deals with every case, a simple one works too, as it guides you to what you want to achieve and gives you direction.

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