Growing up in Fishers, Sajjad Shah realized there weren’t many other people like him, a Muslim attending Hamilton Southeastern High School. When he attended Butler University, there were even fewer. In an attempt to highlight the lives of Muslims around the world during a time when anti-Muslim sentiments were high post-9/11, Shah created an Instagram page, @muslimsoftheworld. The platform rocketed to over 700,000 followers.
“The platform took off with people sharing their stories,” Shah says. “The charity raised millions of dollars for different humanitarian efforts worldwide. Eventually my wife Fatimah and I realized that while we had an amazing social media presence, we didn’t have a physical presence. My wife is Yemeni and has an amazing chai recipe. So, we felt it was only natural to open a coffee shop.”
In 2021 the couple opened their first MOTW Coffee location in Indianapolis on West 38th Street. Since then, they’ve opened six more locations throughout Indianapolis, Illinois, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Shah says that as a local business owner, it’s important to him to be immersed in his communities. Part of that involvement includes addressing a need and calling MOTW followers to action, inspiring hope and a sense of community. The profound impact of MOTW Coffee on the community, inspiring many and fostering a sense of hope, is a testament to the power of social entrepreneurship.
“At our Fishers location there is a pizza place next door, and pretty quickly our employees met a young man with autism named Preston, who was an employee at the nearby Donatos,” Shah says. “Preston quickly became a fixture at our shop, coming in during his breaks from work.”
Staff at MOTW noticed Preston walking to and from work each day in weather that was sometimes harsh, and in the poorly lit evenings. Shah posted on his MOTW Instagram page hoping to raise enough money to purchase Preston an e-bike for his trips to and from work. The story resonated with local residents all over the United States and worldwide. Shah says that not only did they raise enough money to buy the bike, but they were also able to purchase a helmet and provide Preston with a check for the rest of the funds – a testament to the community’s support and generosity.
Shah recalls another story about how his abundant social media presence helped another local homeless man. He says that during the renovation process of the 82nd Street location, they noticed a man essentially living between their dumpster and electrical box. Shah says the man, James, always offered to assist the employees at MOTW in any way he could. He almost became a part of the team.
“We couldn’t let him live outside in those harsh, cold winter months,” Shah says. “We started a fundraiser for him. We raised around $16,000 to $17,000. We bought him a bike and got him a hotel room for about six months. With the additional money, James bought a car. He now has a job and a place to live.”
Shah believes that a great community is one where the people support the local businesses, and in turn, these businesses support the local community. He takes pride in the fact that his brand, MOTW Coffee, brings people from all walks of life together, fostering a strong sense of connection and engagement. Local residents’ support for local businesses like MOTW Coffee is crucial in creating a vibrant and supportive community.
“Our mantra is coffee with a purpose, and it is important to me that we continue to live that mantra daily,” Shah says. “We continue to stay true to our mission. We’re currently working on a large project to benefit the Indianapolis community and other communities where we have shops. People often want to do good in their community but just don’t know how. We want to help people to help others.”
