From growing up in rural Pakistan and breaking out of society’s expectations to launching Atoms, a footwear brand in New York City, Sidra Qasim’s story is not a regular one 🇵🇰 🇺🇸
Sidra Qasim is the Co-Founder of Atoms, a Brooklyn-based brand that makes the ideal everyday shoes and masks. At Atoms, Sidra leads the brand’s product development and operations, where the company raised $8+ million in funding.
Prior to Atoms, Qasim co-founded Markhor, a Y Combinator startup that worked with craftsmen in Pakistan to make high-end leather products. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sidra led the Atoms Mask project 😷. They designed and developed what The Wall Street Journal said is the “Best Materials Mask” donating half a million in the US.
Not to mention, the popular blog Humans of New York did an in-depth story on Sidra’s personal journey. She turned a group of craftsmen in a small village making leather shoes on the floor of a two-room workshop into a firm that sold 600 pairs of shoes and raised $107,000 with the largest Kickstarter in the history of Pakistan.
Want to listen to her inspiring story? Grab your Early Bird ticket to watch Sidra Qasim live on the Step 2022 Main Stage.
