Session Summary
AKM Ismail and Abdul Khader Abdul Hanif initiated a discussion about the new blog page on TechOne.services, which posts proofread transcripts from previous community talks, and requested owners to review AI-generated content for accuracy. Syed Zulfikar presented Muhafit, an Islamic crowdfunding and personal development platform focused on sustainability and transparency, detailing its features for individual accountability, masjid management, and Sharia compliance. Suvai Foods UK, represented by its founder, shared the company's history, brand strategy centered on preservative-free products and a South Indian/Sri Lankan market focus, and the challenges of sales distribution, with Ansari and Riyas Kannamthodi offering advice on improving the supply chain and leveraging data. AKM Ismail also requested feedback on a "dealmaker" course proposal and shared information about the TMC mosque's fundraising efforts.
Topics Presented
Islamic Fintech / Charity Tech
Muhafit - Islamic Crowdfunding & Personal Development Platform
Presented by Syed Zulfikar
An innovative platform for Islamic crowdfunding and personal development, aiming to "turn charity into an opportunity." Muhafit (meaning "the one who preserves or governs") is built on core principles of accountability, intention, and making an impact. The platform addresses three key problems: individuals' struggle with consistency and self-accountability, lack of trust and transparency in charity fundraising, and masjids' reliance on manual, volunteer-based processes.
Key Highlights
- Sustainable charity model - prioritizes tools, livestock, equipment, cash, or food for long-term income and sustainability
- Sharia compliance - donors can categorize donations as Zakat, Sadaqah, Sadaqah Jariyah, or Lillah
- Direct donation flow - money goes directly to campaign owners' accounts, bypassing Muhafit's holding
- 3-click donation process with integrated payment methods
- Personal accountability tool - calculates mandatory prayers based on user's age as motivational snapshot
- Optimized payment processing - secures better transaction fee deals for masjids vs individual gateways
- Completely free for charities - includes orphan management, donation management, and masjid management tools
Community Support Needed
Seeking community members to leverage individual contacts with local mosques and charities to help Muhafit achieve economy of scale. The platform offers free tools and dashboards for charities as long as the Muhafit QR code and platform are utilized.
Traction
3 live campaigns | ~500 page views | Mad charity store campaign in Watford | Platform live and operational
Food & Beverage / FMCG
Suvai Foods UK - South Indian Food Brand
Presented by Suvai Foods UK Founder
A South Indian and Sri Lankan food brand that began trading in late 2018/2019. The founder, an IT management graduate, transitioned from the luxury jewelry industry in Dubai to the food sector after observing that food was a surviving industry during the 2007-2008 crash. The brand was established after introducing Dosa batter to the UK market and focuses on preservative-free products with strong customer satisfaction.
Key Highlights
- 12+ products launched in the UK, with three-quarters produced domestically
- USP: No preservatives - won trust through quality and customer focus
- Partnership with Singapore-based company for product development
- Works with restaurants like Dishoom and distributors like TRS
- Team of ~15 people - small, tight-knit operation
- QR codes on packets showing how to make products - focus on user experience
- Brand identity: South Indian Muslim-owned, vegetarian-focused ("Suvai" means "taste" in Tamil)
- Survived 2020 challenges through internal investment
Challenges & Advice Received
Distribution challenge: Once-a-week drops in each area causing stock-out issues at shops. Online sales constitute 10-15% monthly, with majority through distributors and resellers. Ansari suggested improving supply chain and distribution. Riyas Kannamthodi advised leveraging data more effectively through their ERP system to track stock levels and sales.
Traction
12+ products | Dishoom & TRS partnerships | M25 self-distribution | Birmingham & Manchester via distributors | Popular in Singapore mainstream supermarkets
Community Update
IM Investments Blog Page Launch
Presented by AKM Ismail & Abdul Khader Abdul Hanif
The community has launched a blog page on TechOne.services that posts proofread transcripts from previous community-hosted talks. The plan is to create an overview page under "IM investments" and link all blogs there. Currently implemented as a static HTML page with AI-generated content that requires owner review for accuracy.
Previous Sessions Covered
- Session 1: Brother Sakib's presentation on Zeropa, plug-and-play digital platform, UK/Europe venturing MOU partner, assisted compliance tooling
- Session 2: Mohammed Shik's franchise model, Birmingham Mavericks cricket club sponsorship, BBK partnerships offerings
- AI tools used for transcription - owners requested to review for accuracy
Action Required
All presenters and session owners are requested to review the AI-generated content in the blog for accuracy and provide corrections where needed.
Action Items & Next Steps
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Suvai Foods UK will connect with the brother doing sauces to explore potential synergy
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AKM Ismail will have Khalid create and circulate a presentation regarding Suvai Foods UK
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Suvai Foods UK will review the AI-generated transcript and provide corrections
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Saneej (IT person from Nottingham) offered to connect Suvai Foods UK with Malabar food festival organizers in Leicester
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Community members to support Muhafit by leveraging contacts with local mosques and charities
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AKM Ismail seeking feedback on "dealmaker" course proposal
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TMC Mosque fundraising: Birmingham community requested to support Tamil Muslim mosque construction efforts