Founder – Pathao, Wind
In Bangladesh’s challenging startup environment, Pathao stands out as a rare success story. Achieving profitability, a feat considered the ultimate goal for startups worldwide, Pathao’s accomplishment is attributed to the innovative vision of its founder and former CEO, Hussain M Elius. Recognising a significant gap in logistics and transportation in Bangladesh, Hussain introduced a groundbreaking idea to address it. Despite the slowdown in investment and consumption triggered by the Ukraine war, Pathao achieved profitability in mid-2022, while its competitors either downsized or exited the market.
Hussain M Elius, a visionary entrepreneur from Dhaka, Bangladesh, began a remarkable journey characterised by resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to addressing society’s most pressing issues. Raised in the vibrant city of Dhaka, Hussain’s path to becoming a pioneering business figure started with a strong desire to create positive change in his community.
After earning his postgraduate degree from North South University, Hussain initiated his entrepreneurial journey with a steadfast dedication to tackling the challenges afflicting his city. Identifying the dual issues of pervasive traffic congestion and unreliable power distribution, Hussain endeavoured to pioneer solutions to ease these burdens for Dhaka’s residents.
His entrepreneurial journey began with various initiatives to address transportation challenges. Starting with experimentation in CNG hailing apps and carpooling services, Hussain encountered numerous trials and errors along the way. However, each setback became a valuable learning experience, driving his determination to innovate and refine his approach until he discovered the most effective solution.
In 2015, Hussain partnered to establish Pathao, a super-app that exceeded traditional limits by providing a wide range of services, including ride-sharing, logistics, e-commerce, and food delivery. Originating from modest origins in a garage with only three friends, Hussain’s forward-thinking leadership drove Pathao to remarkable success. With strategic vision and unwavering commitment, Pathao swiftly grew its reach, empowering millions of users, drivers, and merchants throughout Bangladesh.
Talking about the commute solution and its success with ICE Business Times, Hussain said, “Our most significant success was not creating a new technology – but rather a new category of transportation. Creating a category of “motorcycle sharing” was particularly tricky as Dhaka was not a motorcycle friendly city in comparison to others in the region. The culture of sharing rides or taking a motorcycle was not perceived to be safe. Before Pathao, the city had a preconceived notion that motorbikes were unsafe. Furthermore, people in Bangladesh are not very open to the idea of apps in general. Things have changed since then”.
Yet, Hussain’s entrepreneurial odyssey extended further. In 2022, he ventured into uncharted territory by introducing Wind, an innovative decentralised banking platform. Through Wind, Hussain sought to democratise financial services, harnessing state-of-the-art blockchain technology to facilitate instant, affordable global transactions. By seamlessly integrating Web3 technologies with a user-friendly interface, Wind ushered in a groundbreaking era of financial inclusivity and empowerment, promising greater accessibility and efficiency in the realm of finance.
Wind.app recently secured $3.8 million in pre-seed funding. The funding was led by Global Founders Capital, a venture capital firm based in Germany, and Spartan Group, a blockchain investment firm headquartered in Singapore. Other international investors, including Saison Capital, Alumni Ventures, and Tiny VC, participated in the funding round.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavours, Hussain’s influence reaches far beyond the confines of the boardroom. Recognised as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Consumer Tech honoree and a prominent figure in the startup ecosystem, Hussain remains a source of inspiration for the upcoming generation of innovators. His active participation in initiatives like NSU Startups Next and Seedstars underscores his dedication to fostering and championing emerging talents within the tech sector.
Hussain’s journey stands as proof of the transformative potential of perseverance, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. With steadfast determination and visionary leadership, Hussain Elius has not only reshaped the business landscape of Bangladesh but has also emerged as a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs around the globe.
