Tamzid Rahman Samin Shahan Rahman
At the age of just 16 years, Tamzid Rahman is making waves in social entrepreneurship with his innovative startup, Bloodlink. This peer-to-peer blood donation app, which connects donors and recipients free of charge, holds the promise to be a game-changer in the healthcare sector. Recently, Tamzid received a US$ 10,000 project grant from American economist Tyler Cowen's Emergent Ventures, marking a significant milestone in Tamzid's journey with Bloodlink.
Tamzid's journey into technology and social impact began at a younger age. In 2022, while still in the ninth grade, he joined a social entrepreneurship programme at the EMK Center. It was there that his passion for making a difference through innovation was ignited. Tamzid experimented with various entrepreneurial projects during the programme, eventually winning the cohort. This success laid the groundwork for his future endeavours, but it was only the beginning.
After the programme, Tamzid initiated more projects. However, it wasn't until 2023 that he decided to take things to the next level. He wanted to move beyond small projects and focus on something bigger-- something that could have a lasting impact. This desire led to the inception of Bloodlink, his first full-fledged project.
When asked about his initial motivation to start something like Bloodlink, Tamzid shared, "Many years back, I had a cousin--his name was Sabbir. He was a thalassemia patient, and I remember the struggle my relatives faced managing two to three bags of blood for him every month. At one point, when it could not be managed anymore, I witnessed his untimely loss and it left a mark on me."
"When again in 2023, I saw the deadly dengue outbreak unfold and people's desperate hunt for blood donors, I knew right then that now is the best time to do this."
Having prior familiarity with coding, in July 2023, Tamzid coded the prototype of Bloodlink and published it on the Play Store. What started as a simple app quickly evolved under the guidance of mentors and partners, who helped Tamzid shape his vision into a fully-fledged project.
Turning Bloodlink from a concept into a reality was no easy task. One of the biggest challenges Tamzid faced was securing funding. Initially, Bloodlink was little more than a database of blood donors-a promising idea, but one that needed financial backing to grow.
Tamzid's first light of support came when he received a €300 grant from KidsRights, which he used to market and test the app with users. This granted him some useful insights into how Bloodlink could be improved. Soon after, Tamzid secured a second round of funding of $1,000 from The Pollination Project, which he invested in enhancing the app's functionality.
These early successes were followed by additional support from governmental and non-governmental organisations, including the prestigious Bangabandhu International Cyber Security Awareness Award from UNDP Bangladesh and the ICT Ministry of the Bangladesh Government which accompanied a US $10,000 grant.
Since then, Bloodlink has come a long way. Tamzid is particularly proud of the progress they have been able to make in gaining support from their partners. "We have received over US$ 30,000 in funding till now in total, made possible by our partners. Moreover, we have over 500 volunteers from various partner youth organisations that help in making our campaigns possible."
Today, the Bloodlink app is fully operational, having handled over 3,500 blood requests through its messenger chatbot extension. The app has also provided critical support to more than 500 thalassemia patients in Dhaka. Bloodlink's impact extends beyond the capital, with operations now underway in Jashore, and plans to expand to all 64 districts of Bangladesh.
The recent US$ 10,000 grant from Emergent Ventures marks a significant milestone for Bloodlink. This funding will enable Tamzid to introduce much larger and more ambitious plans. "We wish to introduce the app to hospitals across Bangladesh as a 'smart blood donation case management system.' This new feature will allow hospitals to connect directly with blood banks, streamlining the process of blood donation and making it more efficient."
Despite its successes, it wasn't always smooth sailing. Tamzid recalls his fair share of challenges, "It was obviously not easy continuing work simultaneously while attending high school and, there were moments we hit a wall during some financial crisis. However, we have been able to push through only because of our incredible partners, whom I'm most proud of," Tamzid recalled thankfully.
As he looks to the future, Tamzid has big plans for Bloodlink. "My ultimate vision is to achieve a zero per cent child mortality ratio due to a lack of blood transfusions in Bangladesh." Tamzid is also focused on expanding Bloodlink's reach and introducing new features that will further enhance the app's capabilities.
"This journey has taught me so much about leadership, resilience, and the power of a simple idea." When asked about where Bloodlink stands, he says "This is definitely only the start and I'm excited to see where it takes us next."
In the years to come, Tamzid Rahman's name may well become synonymous with innovation and social impact. With Bloodlink, he has already made a significant mark in solving a crucial problem in Bangladesh. But for Tamzid, this is just the beginning. His vision, determination, and relentless pursuit of a better world promise to drive Bloodlink and his personal journey-to even greater heights.
Samin Shahan Rahman is a student of 12th grade at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Dhaka.
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