Turning idle bikes into opportunity: MotoRent’s winning journey
The startup scene at Brac University is promising, with MotoRent the latest addition to the student-led innovations. In an inspiring showcase of student leadership and global collaboration, they have brought home an international win with their startup, receiving a $1500 budget and marking a proud moment for the campus entrepreneurial community.
The competition took place on December 8th. The Democratising Innovation Institute (DI) funded it. It featured teams from universities and organisations across the globe, including Al Quds University (Palestine), the American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan), Bard College (USA), European Humanities University (Lithuania), and community initiatives from South Africa and the United States. Each institution fielded four to five teams, from which only the top five were selected to the final round.
The multidisciplinary team, Nawaz Uddin Tamim (Senior, CSE), Moonim Ahsan (Senior, ESS), Sadman Rahaman (Senior, CSE), Ayman Kabir (Senior, BBS), and Sumaiya Aktar Lima (Junior, BBS) developed MotoRent. Their idea addresses a pressing local issue. Although motorcycles make up nearly three-quarters of Bangladesh’s vehicles, most remain unused for over 165 hours a week, while millions of young people struggle with access to affordable transportation. It aims to bridge this gap by connecting verified bike owners with licensed renters through a secure, short-term rental system. The team shares, “Existing ride-sharing platforms move people, we move access.” It is working on solutions that unlock access to vehicles, allowing more people to generate financial outcomes from the ride-sharing economy.
What set MotoRent apart was the novelty of the idea and balance of skills within the team. Tamim led strategy and coordination as CEO, Sadman oversaw technical execution and user testing, Ayman presented the idea to judges, Lima focused on inclusive user research, and Moonim shaped the financial model and narrative that clarified MotoRent’s unique value proposition. Together, they overcame complex financial planning challenges and adapted to adverse situations.
In the future, they plan to first establish MotoRent in Dhaka, expand to tourist zones, and eventually operate nationwide. For aspiring student entrepreneurs, the team emphasises proof of hard work, persistence, and meaningful connections as the foundation of success.
