Syed Ahmed is an Entrepreneur, Presenter and Television Personality. He is the founder and CEO of multi-award-winning British technology company SAVORTEX. He is best known for being a contestant in the 2006 series of The Apprentice.
Background
Syed was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh. When he was nine months old, he moved with his parents to the United Kingdom and was brought up in East London. Syed is the founder and CEO of Savortex, which specialises in Guinness world record holding energy efficient and world's first IoT connected Smart and digital advertisinghand dryers. Syed has built a network of investors, he raised in excess of £1.5m to support the global expansion of Savortex which enabled him to grow the technology start-up. With over 400 projects deployed globally the company continues to go from strength to strength. Ahmed initially financed the business himself. As a professional speaker, Syed regularly makes speeches to the young business enterprise community, and the more general enterprise community in Britain and more recently at the cleaning Show at the London Excel Exhibition centre.
''The Apprentice''
Ahmed appeared as a candidate in series two of The Apprentice, a British reality television show hosted by Lord Alan Sugar. The series was broadcast from February to May 2006. On the show, Syed was a member of the "Invicta" team. He had won 5 out of 10 tasks. He was fired in week 10 in which he was accused of setting up unpopular activities on the Princess Ship, however claimed the expulsion was unfair and that he had contributed more than fellow contestant Ruth Badger. One of his quotes on the show was "£100,000 salary is not enough but it's a good place to start."
Post Apprentice
Ahmed appeared on Sky News as a paper reviewer – reviewing current and forthcoming newspapers in a celebrity panel. He also has appeared on interviews, at BBC Breakfast with candidate Jo Cameron on the BBC, and also at GMTV. He appeared on Sky One's program called The Match, where 80 celebrities take part to win a place in a celebrity football squad. A Sky One documentary called, Syed Ahmed - Hot Air?, featured Ahmed attempting to launch a new company which specialised in hand and body dryers, with £20,000 of his own money, to develop in three months. The program followed the launch of the SA Vortex's hand dryer products.
Charity work
Syed is an ambassador for international charity WaterAid supporting projects all over the world and Bangladesh. His company Savortex has also raised money by partnering with international charity Water Aid where Syed and his team climbed mountains and funded projects in Bangladesh villages planting water pumps for clean water
Awards and nominations
Syed was Awarded British Bangladeshi Power & Inspire 100 Innovator 2017, awarded at the Houses of Parliament. In January 2015, he was nominated and won the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.
