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Arshad Chowdhury, CEO
Arshad and MetroNapsDrained from the daily hustle of the 9-to-5 (or in many cases hours much longer), you have snuck an occasional yawn during a meeting, dozed off at your desk, have gotten droopy-eyed while speaking to a co-worker, or have even felt inefficient at work because you’re simply exhausted. We all know that a little sleep goes a long way. Arshad Chowdhury, 29, Bangladeshi, acted on that common kernel of knowledge and developed a successful company, product and service that has received wide-spread international acclaim for enhancing your productivity, increasing your efficiency and giving new meaning to the term ‘nap-time’.
Company Name
MetroNaps
Founded
May 2003
Website
www.metronaps.com
Name
Arshad Chowdhury, CEO, 29
Hometown
Glastonbury, CT
Current residence
Brooklyn, NY
Education
Wesleyan University, BA Economics, Class of 1998
Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, MBA, Class of 2003
Past experience
Bankers Trust (Analyst), Deutsche Bank (Analyst)
Ethnicity
Bangladeshi-American, Chittagong
About the company
Founded in 2003, MetroNaps is the premier provider of professional nap centers in the United States. MetroNaps is headquartered in the
Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan. MetroNaps currently offers mid-day napping services to thousands of drowsy New Yorkers at its 350 Fifth Avenue location.
Within six months of opening in the Empire State Building, MetroNaps opened a second facility in Vancouver International Airport. There, tired travelers can rest while waiting for their flight. MetroNaps sees a strong market for its products in airports world wide.
MetroNaps offers three types of services: Stores, Corporate Installations, and MetroNaps pod rentals. Future markets include highway rest stops, gyms, spas and casinos. The patented MetroNaps pods are available only through MetroNaps, a division of NapCentre LLC.
Most notable milestones
First store opened in May 2004 in the Empire State Building.
Second store opened in December 2004 in Vancouver International Airport
Domestic and International Franchising put in place September 2005.
MetroNaps has received international acclaim in publications such as Fortune, Vogue, Allure, The New York Times, Times of London, CNN, BBC World, CNET and Discovery Channel just to name a few.
What’s the niche?
MetroNaps is the first and only company to successfully capitalize on the mid-day rest market.
What’s in store for the future?
We will grow through an aggressive domestic and international franchise to offer resting facilities world wide. The MetroNaps pod will be sold to individual businesses with the goal of making it as ubiquitous as the office coffee machine.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Potential franchisees who share our passion about the benefits of a mid day rest and for healthy living should contact MetroNaps through www.metronaps.com.
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Best way to keep a competitive edge
MetroNaps recognizes that the industry for sleep will become highly competitive in the very near future. To distinguish ourselves, MetroNaps will occupy the premium, high end space with our products and services.
Guiding principle in life
Work to live, don’t live to work.
Yardstick of success
When strangers know my name and have heard of MetroNaps, I feel as if I’ve contributed something to the world.
Goal yet to be achieved
I plan to make the 20-minute mid-day nap a standard practice in the global workplace.
Best practical advice
Cash is king in business, so don’t start one unless you are adequately capitalized.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
“If anyone can sell naps, it’s you.” —Ben Skinner, long time friend.
Mentor
My mother’s brother Bob Karim and my father’s brother Tawhid Chowdhury are my mentors. Both have started and ran multi-million dollar firms and both have seen difficulties along the way.
What motivated you to get started?
I used to work in banking in New York. There I saw many of my colleagues falling asleep at their desks and during meetings. Many would even sneak off to the bathroom to take a nap. That experience made me realize that mid-day napping is an underserved market.
What keeps you motivated?
The sheer size of the industry and endless opportunities we face keeps me motivated. There is no limit to how far this company can grow.
Like best about what you do
I love how much influence I have over decisions large and small. While working at a big company I had almost no influence; here the world is what my business partner and I envision it to be.
Like least about what you do
I gave up a rather luxurious life with fat paychecks and full healthcare to take the risk of starting a business. Sometimes living in relative austerity takes a toll, but I believe I’m better (and less materialistic) for it.
Three characteristics that describe you
Short, dark and handsome.
“If anyone can sell naps, it’s you.” At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An entrepreneur or an astronaut.
Biggest pastime outside of work
Socializing with friends.
Person most interested in meeting and why?
Fidel Castro. His life has been a tremendous example of an individual’s will to power.
Leader in business most interested in meeting and why?
Herb Kelleher, the co-founder of Southwest Airlines. Aside from being a fellow Wesleyan grad, Herb Kelleher found a way to create a company that customers and employees love.
One interesting fact about yourself
In High School I was a New England and Connecticut State champion wrestler.
Three greatest passions
Civil liberties, health, and environmental sustainability.
Favorite book
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Favorite cause
Preserving civil liberties in America
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