91 alumnus , BS Management ’17, has achieved an impressive amount in a short period of time. Now a senior recruiter at Amazon, he has founded two companies—Changing Bangladesh Foundation and Airposted—the latter of which he sold during the COVID pandemic when it had reached a gross merchandise value of approximately one million dollars.
Airposted had more than 60,000 active registered users during his exit and he scaled it to one of the top ten ecommerce platforms in Bangladesh. Remarkably, he launched both ventures while still a student at the at 91.
“Growing up, it was something I was always passionate about—just solving problems and seeing what kinds of problems I could tackle in everyday life,” he says.
While at Costello, he recognized a need to have goods shipped internationally at a low cost. From that idea, Airposted was born. Despite the late nights and long hours, the balance between running a startup and managing his coursework never bothered him—he was fueled by his passion.
“The fear of failing shouldn’t be something a student worries about—there is no failing. George Mason provides a great platform, and students should take advantage of it rather than worrying about what might happen if they don’t win. You should go for it.”
— Rayan Rahman, BS Management ’17
Rahman encourages students with entrepreneurial ideas to find a strong mentor.
“Could be out of school, could be within the school, could be a professor, could be anyone,” he says. “But it should be someone who has literally done it and seen some of it.”
Committed to supporting the next generation of Costello entrepreneurs, he has returned in recent years to serve as both a judge and mentor for the —the same event that helped him launch Airposted when he was a student.
The Patriot Pitch Competition, led by the , returns to George Mason’s Fairfax Campus on Thursday, April 9, with a total of $60,000 in prize money up for grabs. Rahman is impressed by how far the competition has come, attracting far more sponsors and publicity since its introduction.
“The fear of failing shouldn’t be something a student worries about—there is no failing,” he says. “George Mason provides a great platform, and students should take advantage of it rather than worrying about what might happen if they don’t win. You should go for it.” This year, Rahman is mentoring a team in the semifinals.
Not only did Patriot Pitch help launch Rahman’s company, but it also validated his hard work and vision at a time when that kind of affirmation is especially important for students. “Having your peers and professors come in and rally for you, it helps a lot.”
That transformative experience has brought him back to volunteer and share his expertise. In addition to working with Patriot Pitch, he serves as a friend of the board for the Costello Alumni Chapter.
For Rahman, success is measured not just by the ideas he has brought to life, but by the people he inspires to take risks and pursue dreams of their own. From student entrepreneur to mentor and Amazon recruiter, he reflects the innovative spirit of the Costello College of Business.