# Omer Khan, Founder of Social Startups (INTERVIEW) A Program for Global Change Makers By Tiana Reid | Published 2013-07-11 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/omer-khan References: [socialstartu.ps](http://www.socialstartu.ps/) At SocialBusiness.org, we like to get to know a bit more behind the founders of the organizations we profile and Omer Khan, the founder of[Social Startups](http://www.socialstartu.ps/), offers some sound insight into how he addressed a need within the sphere. **Four Questions with Omer Khan** **1. How did the idea for the business model come about?** As an entrepreneur, even though I had a background in technology, finance and marketing, I wasn’t a programmer and I found it really difficult to launch a technology-based social enterprise. I tried different [accelerator programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ramen-club), crowdfunding, venture capital groups, angel investors, and I found there was a gap for people like myself, so I launched Social Startups program. The program is designed to help change makers around the world to [validate their social enterprise model](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/headstarter) and attract funding. For social entrepreneurs with an idea for a mobile or web app for creating social impact, we will develop their App and launch minimum viable product (MVP) within four weeks. **2. How did you decide to join this sector?** I started my career with a technology consulting group in late 90’s. Over the past decade I was involved in diverse industries including digital media and finance. In 2011, I started a part-time project with the aim to develop a system which will allow people to round up everyday transactions and donate change to charity/project of their choice. I wasn’t aware this side project will change my life upside down. My passion became so strong that I end of giving up everything I had my job, house literally everything. Along the way there were a lot failures and few wins and that led me start Social Startups program to help change makers around the world in their transition to start a technology-based social enterprise. **3. How do you get your inspiration?** Most of my inspiration comes from nature, if we spend some time with nature it can inspire and teach us things that we can’t even imagine. Sometime ago, I was walking in a park, noticing trees that have lost all their life due to autumn. As I was reflecting at my life and feeling sorry about loss of few possessions I had. I walked up to a tree that has almost lost all its leaves dead on the grass, I stopped and stared and the tree inspired me. It taught me a lesson that to embrace new life we have to let old one go. **4. How do you reset yourself to be creative? Do you have any rituals?** I have learnt that creativity is basically imagination put into action. To reset my creativity I actually reset my imagination without any boundaries and take one step at a time to transform my imagination into a reality. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 90% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Social Startups Program:** Developing an MVP for mobile or web apps is a potential opportunity for technology-based social enterprises. - **Validation for Social Entrepreneurs:** Providing assistance on validating social enterprise models and attracting investment provides opportunities for growth and scaling. - **Nature as Inspiration:** Inspiration coming from nature can be a useful tool for creativity and innovation. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Technology-based Social Enterprises:** A program like the Social Startups can provide support to entrepreneurs with unique mobile or web app ideas that can solve existing social problems. - **Investment Firms:** Investment firms that provide seed funding for social startups can potentially invest in validated social enterprise models that have the potential to scale. - **Creative Services:** Creative services that specialize in visual design, web development, and branding can work with social startups to enhance product development and brand reputation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Supportive Entrepreneur Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/successful-startups.md) - [Entrepreneurial Mentorship platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/growthmentor.md) - [Canadian Entrepreneur-Focused Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canadian-entrepreneur.md) - [Entrepreneurial Community Building](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/venturepals.md) - [Product Validation Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/founder-odyssey.md) - [Supportive Entrepreneurial Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-zenpreneur-community.md) - [Indie Hacker Networks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starters-lab.md) - [Entrepreneur Support Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hustle-cafe.md) - [Startup Networking Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/global-startup-ecosystem.md)