“Chameh”: INOTEX 2025’s Latest Event Unveils Davood Abedi’s Inspiring Journey from Street Vendor to Industry Pioneer

At INOTEX 2025 on April 30, 2025, the “Chameh: Stories of Iranian Entrepreneurs” event spotlighted Davood Abedi Amoli, the father of Iran’s detergent industry, whose remarkable journey from street vending in Amol to industrial success serves as an inspiration for aspiring youth.

 
Davood Abedi Amoli, born in 1937 in Amol, is a pioneering figure in Iran’s detergent industry and the founder of Taj Detergent. A graduate with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran, he is widely recognized as the “Father of Iran’s Detergent Industry.” His life story, shared with raw honesty and passion at the “Chameh: Stories of Iranian Entrepreneurs – INOTEX 2025” event, traces a path of relentless effort, learning, and overcoming challenges.

Abedi’s journey began with humble roots, selling a local dish called “Mamajim Jim” (baked potatoes) on the streets of Amol. As a child and teenager, he refused to rely on his father’s money, instead fostering an entrepreneurial spirit to earn his own income. From hawking green plums to working as an accountant in his father’s shop, and engaging in various buying and selling ventures in the market, each step marked the beginning of his challenging yet rewarding path.

Driven by a passion for books, social issues, and political activism, Abedi sought to effect social change during his youth. Despite his father’s opposition, he moved to Tehran to pursue studies in chemistry while maintaining his social concerns. To support himself, he took on multiple internships at places like Iran Glass Factory, a vegetable oil plant, Tehran Water Organization, and oil facilities. At each stage, rather than waiting for formal training, he proactively sought to learn and innovate. Notably, while at a vegetable oil factory, he proposed a method to repurpose contaminated oil into soap production.

After graduation, despite initial financial struggles and unemployment, Abedi’s perseverance and knowledge propelled him to become a successful factory owner and entrepreneur. His experiences stand as a testament that the essence of entrepreneurship lies not in initial capital but in the courage to learn, persistence, and creativity. Abedi’s story, shared at INOTEX 2025, exemplifies how determination can transform humble beginnings into groundbreaking achievements.