In 2001, Haroon Mokhtarzada and his brothers had a wild idea: Create a computer program so simple that even their mother could build a Web site. Now 28, Mokhtarzada’s initial (and successful) plan has grown into Silver Spring-based Webs.com, with more than 20 million Web sites to its credit.
Besides a profit, are there any grand ideas are behind your social publishing venture?
My family is originally from Afghanistan, so freedom of speech and expression has always been really important to us. It’s motivated us to allow all people to contribute to and publish their ideas on the Internet.
Have you run up against problems from more restrictive countries?
China has been the biggest problem. They asked us to shut down all sites that talked about the Falun Gong or that criticized the government. We didn’t agree to it, so they blocked the site. We didn’t do what Yahoo did and say we’d have different standards for different countries.
How exactly does China tell you to shut down?
It was almost in reverse. People were having trouble getting to us, so we contacted the Chinese Embassy. We got a letter back saying if we removed the sites that talk about the Falun Gong we won’t have a problem with you.
How has your success been recognized locally?
We recently placed fifth in the Deloitte and Touche Fast 50, for the 50 fastest growing tech companies in Maryland. Part of the prize is one of my lifelong goals: Ring the closing bell on the NASDAQ exchange in New York.
Won’t that be sort of depressing?
Well, hopefully it’ll be a good day on Wall Street.
This is pretty impressive success for someone in his 20s. Where do you give credit?
I give more credit to [Montgomery County’s Blair High School Science Magnet program than to my undergrad, or just about anything else. It was an amazing school.
