Keyvan Bamdej
The road to success: "Make a strong impression!"
The independent way of life is not unfamiliar to Keyvan Bamdej.
He has been independent since 2016, first as the founder of a niche media about his home country Iran called (altomiran.dk), then for two years as co-founder of a medical technology company (osaa- innovation.dk) and most recently three years as project manager for a new mentoring initiative for the startup organization Venture Cup Denmark (venturecup.dk), where he has helped more than 200 startups with their business ideas and contact with the business world.
Venture Cup Denmark is "like Startup Central a organization whose goal is to help entrepreneurs with their startups.”
In the middle of a global pandemic, while the corona crisis is at its peak, Keyvan Bamdej resigns from his position as project manager at the turn of the year in 2021. He decides to make room for a new talent and now for the first time to start a company for himself. The mission is again as - always before - to try new concepts, to have a new and creative approach to the profession, oneself and the customers. As well as having video productions added to the shelf in addition to the existing services in the form of journalism, PR, project management and fundraising.
"As an employee, you don't have the same freedom to try out new projects. As a self-employed person, there is room for you own ideas and you can experiment with your services and be a refreshing breath of fresh air for your new and existing customers, as you do not have a specific agenda hanging over your head other than to innovate and think new and creatively about the customers' behalf," says Keyvan Bamdej.
Actually, Keyvan Bamdej, who is 38 years old, admits that he has never really settled in as a wage earner. He is better off dictating his daily life himself and using the energy when he has it. For example, Keyvan is not an A person, so afternoons and evenings are where the energy is at its highest. Still, he is available when customers need him. Even if it was early in the morning.
"As a permanent employee, you hand over the structure and management responsibility to another party, who decides and sets the framework for when you have to carry out your work."
So you can say that it is the process of liberation from the fixed, physical framework that is attractive as an independent person, as well as the fact of having the opportunity to be innovative, agile and flexible yourself.
Bamdej Communication ApS rests on this foundation. The company helps all its customers, which include Wonderful Copenhagen, Team Danmark, Kjøbenhavns Boldklub, Politiken, DR Sporten and TechBBQ, with everything from journalism, PR and photography and videography.
The great work that Keyvan Bamdej does can be seen, among other things, in the video portraits "CPH Talents", where so far eight talents within three industries such as sports, culture and business life in Copenhagen, in an in-depth format of 5-15 minutes, talk about themselves and their passion.
"If I hadn't started out as self-employed, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to kick-start the concept 'CPH Talents' and make portraits of Copenhagen talents," says Keyvan Bamdej.
According to himself, as the creative director, he has set the standard for how the productions and the concept should turn out. Now it's about building a team that can further develop the concept and run the project. In addition to "CPH Talents", Keyvan Bamdej has, among other things, made video portraits of startup companies such as Kiddo, Goboat, Stayseat, ATLANT 3D Nanosystems and InProTher.
Customer service is paramount, which is why there is always a response within an hour, and two courses are provided for each production, so that the customer can provide feedback and new wishes for the final product. In this way, it is ensured that the overall expression is exactly what the customer demands. For Bamdej Communication ApS, it is always about: "being the customers' loyal partner and making a strong impression!"
Keyvan Bamdej has created his company on his own and from scratch
“It is demanding, but also fun. Everything that you can see in my portfolio is just the foundation. Now more needs to be built on," says Keyvan Bamdej.
The ambition is to get a co-owner, some employees and business partners, so that it will be more fun to share ups and downs. In this way, Keyvan Bamdej also gets time to develop even more on his company and the parallel projects. He has a great passion for developing things from nothing into something big.
"Innovation is liberating - and there is basically always a new, exciting project that you can embark on, if only you have the right mindset and an open, curious mind," he says.
This passion applies both professionally and personally. Keyvan Bamdej is educated Cand. Comm.'s from Roskilde University majoring in Journalism and History. He has written a thesis on the Israel-Palestine conflict with reference to the Gaza conflict and has been employed at Berlingske Tidende for a year, as a writing journalist at Berlingske Nyhedsbureau and Berlingske's cultural editorial office respectively. But he is e.g. not a trained photographer or videographer, but he has learned all that himself, just as he has bought equipment for around DKK 200,000 with his own money to be able to make professional video for.
"I probably suffer a bit from what is known as FoMo (Fear of Missing Out). I always feel that around the corner there is always something exciting to do that I don't want to miss. That's why I feel best by making my own decisions and always being prepared to say yes to a wild project and thus take some chances," emphasizes Keyvan Bamdej.
"Added to that is all the learning and experience of standing in unfamiliar situations. After all, I'm not just a journalist and videographer. I am also the businessman, the business developer, the networker, just as it is me who is the concept maker, the website designer, the editor, the organizer, the buyer, the color grader, the writer, the photographer and the drone operator. Last but not least, it is also me who makes offers and takes customer meetings and offers new assignments.”
A few good tips from Keyvan
We all have inner voices. Typical voices of reason, which shape our thinking - and which lean towards choosing "the safe". In addition, we live in a society where norms are given great importance (security, a good job, prestige, fixed income, etc.). But entrepreneurship is precisely about daring to go against these inner voices and societal norms. It's about maturity, being clarified and then going all in with great passion and eagerness to take full ownership of your projects.
If you are completely green and have never tried the independent life before, then Keyvan suggests that you look into starting your entrepreneurial project alongside your current permanent job. Start quietly building on your startup idea, to get a sense of what you are going to do specifically, do some preliminary work, get a solid network in your area, talk to the various innovation hubs in the country in order to get an office space together with other eager entrepreneurs and test your idea/product/service/concept/project in front of a defined target group and get their feedback on the solution. When you are financially, socially and mentally ready and you have received initial feedback that shows potential, then you have already created a foundation that enables you to now be a little more enlightened and knowledgeable to throw yourself wholeheartedly into the journey as a fulfilled entrepreneur. This process may be long, demanding and perhaps uncertain and lonely, but it is all worth it. Especially if you are passionate about trying yourself and your idea. Once the processing is done, jump in with both feet and take things as they come, and then learn from the process. The experiences you gain along the way are invaluable.
"When you start out as self-employed, there is of course a greater risk than with regular work, because you don't know if you will also succeed, get some customers and keep the business running. This is precisely why you value the experience more when it actually succeeds. And you have made a customer or user happy with your solution.”
The short of the long story is that you only find out if it's something for you by trying it out. You have to be true to yourself and work with something that you are super passionate about. When you have found what is worth fighting for and are completely settled, then you must jump into it with both feet, without doubt or hesitation, because it hinders you more than it benefits you.
It is demanding to be independent, but if you have to go all in and bet 100% on it. So make an agreement with yourself about some milestones. Eg. that you do it for 3 or 6 months. Next, you can stop and evaluate: Was it worth it? Am I satisfied? Do I feel like I'm making a difference? Etc. If not then stop.
"Better do it today than tomorrow." If you are itching to do something different, you have a unique chance. Jump into it and realize your dream, go all in on your versions and dreams.
Startup Central has helped Keyvan with
"Startup Central is my security. I don't pay into a social security fund or other community"
Keyvan Bamdej says that he has gone all in on his business - and when you do that, you must also be willing to take the consequences if it doesn't work out.
"Startup Central offers a network which is targeted at startups. Exactly like Venture Cup Denmark”
Here you meet like-minded people and specialists for each area, with whom you can spar. Keyvan Bamdej also says that our members do friendship services among themselves, for example he has created an article for another member in exchange for some SEO work.
Everyone is in the same boat, we are all entrepreneurs, so we can mirror each other.
"Startup Central brings everyone together in one place, so you get the opportunity to exchange knowledge and give good advice.”
Follow Keyvan's entrepreneurial journey
Keyvan Bamdej has only just started and is already flying. He helps startups, which fall right into the spirit of Startup Central, as well as paying tribute to talents from several different industries with his company Copenhagen Talents.
Do you also want to follow which exciting projects Keyvan jumps into next. You can visit Bamdej Communication ApS at the following two pages:
As well as on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Læs mere
Ønsker du mere information om, hvordan Startup Central kan hjælpe dig, kan du læse mere om os her og kontakte os på telefon: +45 29 29 01 13 eller mail: kontakt@startupcentral.dk.