Nam, a 21-year-old entrepreneur, has spent time working as a sous-chef while studying at the University of Wollongong. There he came up with the idea for Fresh Loop: a marketplace that connects customers, like university students, with local venues to purchase surplus food at a discount.
After learning about The King’s Trust Australia’s Young Entrepreneurs Programme (YEP) through iAccelerate at the University of Wollongong, Nam was excited to join a group of like-minded young people who shared his passion and ambition for entrepreneurship. While he had a strong concept, he was still developing the practical knowledge needed to transform the idea into a business.
Over the course of the ten-week programme, Nam strengthened his understanding of business operations, finance, legal requirements and pitching. The workshops provided valuable insights, from speakers and mentors to a community of like-minded young peers.
“I learned a lot from other people and their different points of view,” he said. “That really impacted me and changed the way I think about my business.”
Through these conversations and experiences, Nam gained greater confidence in his entrepreneurial journey and a clearer understanding of how to bring his idea to life. And he’s put that understanding into practice.
Today, Fresh Loop is live, has reached over 100 signups in just one week, and has partnered with multiple venues across Wollongong. Nam is focused on continuing to develop Fresh Loop to create a solution that supports local businesses while helping reduce food waste. Looking back on the programme, he describes the ten-week journey as both memorable and meaningful.
“I gained so much business knowledge during the programme,” Nam said. “It helped me understand how to operate a business and gave me confidence in my idea.”
