My friend Afnan and I returned to Bangladesh after a decade abroad. We saw a gap – no good platform for artists to sell designs. Artists couldn’t monetize talents, causing unemployment. Consumers lacked unique, customized products.

Afnan and I conceived Cosmos, an online marketplace, as the solution. It would let artists open online stores selling designs on products like apparel and phone cases, providing income while offering customized options matching consumers’ styles.

First, we had to validate the business model and convince investors to fund Cosmos. Our research aimed to show the potential for an artistic e-commerce marketplace meeting unmet needs in Bangladesh.