This Side Hustle Q&A features Dylan Zajac, 21, a senior at Babson College. At the age of 15, Zając was saving money and repairing computers. The concert inspired Zając to found a non-profit organization Computers 4 peoplewhich distributes refurbished computers to people in need. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Photo credit: courtesy of Computers 4 People
When did you begin your side business and where did you discover the inspiration for it?
I started off going to thrift stores around Brooklyn, New York with my high school friends as a fun hobby. We would take the PATH train from Hoboken and then go from thrift store to thrift store, often hitting three or more in one day. In these stores, we dug through piles of old electronics looking for hidden gems. When we found something useful, we negotiated hard to achieve an agreement. Sometimes we bought so many computers that we needed to stack them on skateboards to roll them into the house.
Once we recuperate the computers, we’ll clean them, repair them, and sell them on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. Soon this hobby turned into a real business. At one point my entire bedroom was filled with random desktop computers and Apple PowerBooks. The margins were crazy, sometimes as high as 80%!
What were the first steps you took to interrupt away from the game? How did it evolve into the nonprofit you run today?
One of the key things that allowed me to begin a side hustle was access to a laptop and the Internet when I used to be in middle school. I spent hours watching YouTube tutorials on refurbishing computers and learning the ins and outs of e-commerce platforms, which helped me reach a whole lot of shoppers, all from my bedroom.
But as I dug deeper into the topic, I started to note a huge problem. During my trips to Brooklyn, I saw mountains of e-waste — computers thrown away by people and corporations who had no idea find out how to properly get rid of them. At the same time, I noticed how many people in the world (2.6 billion to be exact) do not have access to the digital world. Then the idea for Computers 4 People got here to me.
I made a decision to show what I learned into a nonprofit. Using online tutorials, I discovered find out how to incorporate the company, apply for 501(c)(3) status, create bylaws, and make every little thing work. The plan was easy: collect used computers from individuals and corporations, refurbish them and donate them to people and organizations in need. In February 2019, as a 15-year-old high school sophomore, I officially began my mission to eliminate the digital divide. I’ve been doing it ever since.
What were the biggest challenges you faced while creating Computers 4 People and how did you overcome them?
One of the hardest challenges was ensuring that Computers 4 People could operate sustainably without me. Balancing school and running a nonprofit taught me that there really is no such thing as balance; you only have to make it work. Many people assumed that Computers 4 People would collapse when I went to school, as is the case with most small projects of this kind. To prove them incorrect, I focused on creating a solid structure that clearly defined responsibilities reminiscent of accounting, human resources and program management. I built my very own systems for inventory automation, customer management, donor management, and federal/state grant reporting, which helped us scale and operate efficiently.
Providing sufficient funding and computer donations stays an ongoing challenge as we work to fulfill the overwhelming demand for our services. With a whole lot of individuals on our waiting list, demand often exceeds supply. To address this issue, we are diversifying our funding sources using government grants, foundation grants, individual donations and earned revenue. Additionally, we work with some of the largest Fortune 100 and 500 corporations to take back their used computers, so we will proceed to effectively bridge the digital divide.
What do the organization’s development and success indicators seem like today?
To date, we have donated 3,668 computers to people in need, diverting over 55,000 kilos of electronic waste from landfills. Our programs have enabled hundreds of individuals to access education, secure employment and thrive in the digital world. We have raised over $1.6 million in grants and donations, which has allowed us to grow quickly and grow our team to over a dozen full-time employees.
What do you enjoy most about working at this nonprofit organization?
I like solving difficult problems, building technology to enhance processes, and working with a team of individuals with a mission, focused on the same goal. It’s also incredibly rewarding to listen to every day about the life-changing impact of our programs and see those results reflected in our data.
What is your advice to others who want to begin an organization that makes an impact?
Let community insights drive your solutions; don’t start something just because it seems to have an impact. Make sure your efforts result in a positive consequence for the world, especially in the nonprofit space. In the starting, don’t rely on others to deal with the most vital things. Learn find out how to manage incorporation, taxes, accounting, operations, technology, human resources and board formation yourself. Understanding your organization and industry from the inside and outside is extremely essential. Once you have a solid foundation, build a team that enhances your skills and includes individuals who excel in areas reminiscent of fundraising, accrual accounting, and organization. Finally, don’t overthink each step: act quickly, make decisions quickly and move forward.
This article is a part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being… young business owner.