23 Questions with Bond Collective is a series highlighting the impressive 1,000+ person community spread across the Bond Collective portfolio. The series will feature members from 60 Broad, 55 Broadway, Gowanus and Flatiron locations and Bond Collective employees as well. 23 Questions will explore all different walks of life and show just how unique and vast the Bond Collective network continues to become.
Reza Chowdhury is the CEO and Founder of Alleywatch and a resident member of Bond Flatiron. Reza is a lifelong New Yorker, growing up on the north shore of Long Island and then moving to the city after graduating college. Reza attended The University of Albany for undergrad then spent a few years in Washington D.C. at Georgetown Business School. After working as a trader for over five years and dabbling in Corporate Development, Reza realized his love for the startup ecosystem and founded Alleywatch. Alleywatch is a media property focused on startup news; opinions and reviews; investment and product information; events reported, experienced, seen, heard and overheard in New York and beyond. As the the CEO and Founder, he wears many hats within the organization, but spends most of his time focused on strategic growth and business development.
As a resident of Chinatown, Reza spends most of his time looking for hidden treasures within the neighborhood. When he’s not in the office, one of his favorite local spots (which he doesn’t mention to everyone) is Apotheke. In his spare time, he likes to hit the outdoors to fish, kayak and take a Citibike to explore the city. Reza’s interests include finding the next best happy hour spot and scaling his business. One of his (many) favorite things about Bond Collective is the community and central location, which has given Alleywatch the ability to establish a presence in one of the best parts of the city. Crazy, loud and outgoing are some of the few adjectives to describe Reza’s character. Not to mention the killer stories he tells. With that, we asked Reza a few questions...
1 - First thing you do in the morning?
Roll over and grab my phone.
2 - Top 3 songs to listen to when you need to get work done?
Rocky 4 Soundtrack.
3 - Favorite coffee shop and go to order?
I don’t drink coffee.
4 - Gmail or Outlook?
What’s Outlook? Gmail, of course.
5 - App you can’t live without?
Meditation.
6 - First job?
Worked at a tourist t-shirt shop in Time Square.
7 - Favorite lunch spot?
Organique- I eat there every day. Bond Collective members get a discount.
8 - Early or late?
Late- I start my day at noon, but always show up to things on time.
9 - How do you unwind after a long day of work?
Hitting the steam room at Equinox.
10 - What’s your lucky charm?
I have two $2 bills in my wallet and I never leave home without them.
11 - What inspires you?
My parents journey into this country as immigrants.
12 - Social Media account everyone should be following?
@alleywatch
13 - Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Buy low, sell high. It works 100% of the time.
14 - How long did it take you to get to work this morning?
It was a little bit humid and above 86 degrees, so I took the bus and it took 26 minutes. Normally I Citibike and it takes under 19 minutes.
15 - When’s the last time you celebrate a win?
Every day is a win when you’re alive and living in the city.
16 -If you could squeeze one more activity into your daily life, what would it be?
I wish I had more time to read.
17 - If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Maximum Blue.
18 - What is the most interesting thing about you?
I’m the winner of 4 spelling bee’s and I had double hip replacements before I was 35.
19 - Last show you binge watched?
The Wire.
20 - Biggest Cheerleader?
My family.
21 - Call or text?
Text unless we have a call scheduled, but I don’t ever like to do business over text.
22 - Favorite book?
The Stranger by Albert Camus - that book title has stuck with me since high school so it must of had some meaning to me.
23 - Name 5 people (dead or alive) you would invite to a dinner party.
My Great Great Great Grandfather, Donald Trump, Ann Coulter, George Washington, and Snoop Dogg.
For more on Alleywatch visit: www.alleywatch.com or @alleywatch on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
For more on Reza, check out his website and follow him on Instagram: @rezac
Images courtesy of our in house photographer, Hannah Cohen. Check out her work here!