Georgetown student launches online social business

Press release

Published May 24th, 2016 - 05:27 GMT

Georgetown University in Qatar International Politics senior, Hamza Iqbal, has recently launched CHASHMAY.com, a social business venture that combines retail profits with social good. The online retail portal is the result of the 21 year old’s drive to make the world a better place through socially responsible consumerism.

Working in partnership with an NGO in Karachi, Pakistan, Iqbal’s social business provides eye exams and free prescription eyewear for every pair of glasses purchased by a customer online. And now he’s ready to take his project to the next level.

“Changing the way in which money exchanges hands, to me is our only shot at changing the world around us,” he explained, crediting his university experience as both an inspiration for his global outlook, and for developing his company.

“My time at Georgetown and the immense diversity on our campus has really given me a holistic outlook on the consequences of actions, both individual and collective, in political, social and economic contexts. I have peers from over 55 countries, with at least as many different worldviews, so I often joke that I rely on my campus community for product development.”

A social business is defined as a venture with both a measurable social outcome and a profit motive, both of which form the key performance indicators of success. Iqbal’s CHASHMAY.com is based in Hong Kong and ships to customers worldwide. “We have suppliers in Shanghai and creative partners in California, Hanoi, Istanbul and Lahore, and I am able to remotely manage the business.” he explained.

For now, he says, the response to the business venture is very encouraging. “We broke even in under 21 hours of launch and welcomed our 900th store visitor in under three weeks of going live. A unique 3-D electronic tryout is in the pipeline and so is a grand online branding campaign.”

Prior to the launch of Chasmay.com, Iqbal spent one summer learning Arabic in Jordan, and another summer working for one of the most prominent public relations and business development firms in Turkey. His social business can be accessed at https://chashmay.com/

Background Information

Georgetown University in Qatar

Established in 1789 in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions. Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), founded in 2005 in partnership with Qatar Foundation, seeks to build upon the world-class reputation of the university through education, research, and service. Inspired by the university’s mission of promoting intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding, GU-Q aims to advance knowledge and provide students and the community with a holistic educational experience that produces global citizens committed to the service of humankind.

Located in Doha’s Education City, GU-Q offers the same internationally recognized Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree as Georgetown’s Capitol Campus in Washington, DC. This unique, interdisciplinary program prepares students to tackle the most important and pressing global issues by helping them develop critical thinking, analytic, and communication skills within an international context. GU-Q alumni work in leading local and international organizations across industries ranging from finance to energy, education, and media. The Qatar campus also serves as a residency and delivery location for the Executive Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management along with the Executive Master’s in Leadership.