LEAD
COVER STORY: Winners of MPowered's 1000 Pitches
By Nicole Bowling and Allison Goldstein
Photographs by: Anja Kreibaum and Marissa Mcclain
February 8, 2010
Growing up in Chittagong, Bangladesh, Shahnoor Amin witnessed third world poverty firsthand. The village in which he lived during his childhood had no electricity, and still doesn't today. Shahnoor's parents worked hard to make a better life for him and his brothers. Now as a Master's student in engineering, Shahnoor wants to give back and use his education to better the people still living in those destitute conditions that he knows quite well. His company, June Energy, is a startup focused on implementing portable energy solutions for developing countries. The June Box, the shoe box-sized portable energy device that Shahnoor created, won the Environment category. The device could replace kerosene as the primary source of light in poor countries, which would greatly benefit the environment and health of those country's residents.
LM: What was the biggest inspiration for your idea?
SA: Coming from a third world country and a poor family, I saw how hard my parents worked to get where they are today. I've gone through the entire cycle of life, from nothing to everything, and I just want to make a difference. Seeing a place like Bangladesh, where there have been no improvements in 50 years, has really fueled that desire.
LM: What is your ultimate goal for June Energy?
SA: I want people to understand that there's an opportunity to do something with your life and education. I'm also looking to be a good steward of the environment, and by helping to eliminate kerosene, I know that I'm making a difference.
LM: Has being a U of M student helped to develop your ideas at all?
SA: Definitely. The University of Michigan has a very collaborative atmosphere and we've been able to network with people from all different areas. There are so many resources to take advantage of, especially organizations like the Zell Lurie Institute and the Center for Entrepreneurship.
LM: What could other U of M students do to help your cause?
SA: By being socially aware of what's going on worldwide. Even by looking up June Energy on Facebook and telling their friends or their parents about it, they could help further our goals.
LM: Since you're a native of Bangladesh, do you have a favorite Bengali phrase?
SA: Yes. Roughly translated into English it means, "If the world fades away in hopelessness and destitution, I will remain behind and make a difference."
LM: What was the biggest inspiration for your idea?
SA: Coming from a third world country and a poor family, I saw how hard my parents worked to get where they are today. I've gone through the entire cycle of life, from nothing to everything, and I just want to make a difference. Seeing a place like Bangladesh, where there have been no improvements in 50 years, has really fueled that desire.
LM: What is your ultimate goal for June Energy?
SA: I want people to understand that there's an opportunity to do something with your life and education. I'm also looking to be a good steward of the environment, and by helping to eliminate kerosene, I know that I'm making a difference.
LM: Has being a U of M student helped to develop your ideas at all?
SA: Definitely. The University of Michigan has a very collaborative atmosphere and we've been able to network with people from all different areas. There are so many resources to take advantage of, especially organizations like the Zell Lurie Institute and the Center for Entrepreneurship.
LM: What could other U of M students do to help your cause?
SA: By being socially aware of what's going on worldwide. Even by looking up June Energy on Facebook and telling their friends or their parents about it, they could help further our goals.
LM: Since you're a native of Bangladesh, do you have a favorite Bengali phrase?
SA: Yes. Roughly translated into English it means, "If the world fades away in hopelessness and destitution, I will remain behind and make a difference."