From Somalia to the United States, How this 29-year-old is Using a Remote Team to Build a Million Dollar Firm in Minneapolis

Abdullahi Asir is one of the most promising young entrepreneurs and leaders in southern Minnesota in the United States. The outstanding 29-year-old is the CEO of Izone Corp, an urban planning company based in Downtown Minneapolis focusing on entrepreneurial urban planning to revitalize communities and help minority tenants. Much of the company’s work includes affordable housing, homeownership, and connecting communities to needed resources. Abdullahi also works for Dakota county Government and the CARES Eviction Prevention Program through COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program. 

Recently, Abdullahi was one of the young professionals who was appointed to the Northfield City Council boards and commission and believed to be the first Somali-American to serve on the human rights commission. Mayor Rhonda Powell of Northfield said the nominations were based on the desire to bring young professionals to the city boards and commissions and incorporate people with more diverse perspectives into the decision-making process. 

Abdullahi is an alumnus of Georgetown University, heralded by some as one of the most promising young entrepreneurs in the urban planning industry in Minnesota, Abdullahi is one man that keeps moving the needle forward. He has earned a name for himself as a visionary; one who is not afraid to take risks, and a man keen on tackling community challenges with bolder urban-planning policies that confront a host of challenges, from redefining urban revitalization and affordable housing to addressing economic inequality and displacement and housing shortages.

In his new role, Abdullahi, the entrepreneur seeks to emphasize transit options and increasing city services for demographics and find additional ways to enhance cultural awareness through Izone projects. He says Northfield has an inclusive atmosphere for immigrants and refugees through private and public partnerships and an approach that he believes is unconventional compared to other cities. He is looking forward to having conversations and dialogue with the public and collaborating with community groups to be effective to reach a sustainable goal.

His journey began when his parents relocated to America from Somalia when he was a little kid. Born to middle-class parents. He attended school at Minnesota State University, Mankato graduated with honors and was a class valedictorian. He also graduated from Georgetown University, where he was a member of committees and organizations, including one related to slavery and reconciliation. He was awarded the Truman wood scholarship award since he was actively engaging the community on different subjects. 

After graduating from Georgetown University, Abdullahi worked as a transportation planner for the Minnesota Department of Transportation at its headquarters in St Paul, MN. He, therefore, gained experience in affordable housing, zoning laws, business laws, bike-sharing programs, and community planning.

Living in Minnesota, he decided to start iZone Corp, an urban planning firm that would help minority families buy, renovate and rent properties. As a result, to stabilize and revitalize Minneapolis’s most diverse and economically vibrant communities.

Izone not only offers neighborhood revitalization but also transport planning which helps the community to have safe, affordable, and convenient transportation services. The software enables the residents to see forecast travel demands, traffic flow, and ridership. Being an Immigrant himself, he understood there is a need to help people through the immigration processes. Izone therefore also helps immigration law, immigrants fill their application process at affordable rates and also provides Somali translation services that help Somali immigrants within the Minnesota city.

He says Minnesota has an inclusive atmosphere for immigrants and refugees through private and public partnerships and an approach that he believes is unconventional compared to other states.

Currently, Abdullahi’s company izone Corp has various projects in Rochester City, Minnesota, The state of Minnesota, United HealthGroup, Jamal Osman, Ward 6 City Council office, and the State of Rhode Island. However, Abdullahi’s future goal is to bring Izone to Africa and grow it into a Fortune 500 diversified company in the continent: to establish a dedicated presence in Africa.