Brewing Success: From Campus to Coffee Connoisseur
From the Classroom to the Real World: How OutPeak’s Youth Program Helped Me Turn My Entrepreneurial Dreams into Reality
Hey there! I’m Boson, the head of OutPeak’s Youth Program and also a student hustling my way through Babson College. If there’s one thing that’s been fueling my drive here, it’s the spirit of entrepreneurship and my love for creating innovative products. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve soaked up a ton of theory from all those business courses, but at some point, I realized that theory alone wasn’t going to cut it. It’s like knowing how to cook but not having a kitchen—you need a place to actually put those skills to the test.
And I’m not the only one feeling this way. A lot of my peers share the same passion for innovation, but we’re all facing the same challenge: how do we bridge the gap between what we learn in class and what happens in the real world? I started thinking, maybe it’s time to take matters into our own hands and create opportunities for ourselves.
That’s when I crossed paths with OutPeak. They’ve got this Youth Program that’s basically a dream come true for anyone who’s itching to get their hands dirty in the world of entrepreneurship. It’s not just an internship where you fetch coffee and file papers; they actually hand you a project and say, “Go ahead, make it happen.” You’re in charge of everything—from ideation to execution—and you get to see firsthand what works and what doesn’t. Plus, you’re not doing this alone. You’re working with a group of seasoned pros who are not only creative and driven but also genuinely want to help the next generation of entrepreneurs succeed.
From Newbie to Pitch Master: My Journey into Product Promotion
Now, let me tell you, it wasn’t all smooth sailing at first. My initial task was to team up with the Vacoom club at school and start promoting the product—the automatic vacuum coffee canister—to local coffee shops. The first time I walked into a café to pitch, I was so nervous I could barely get the words out. Picture this: a college kid standing there, trying to muster the courage to talk about a coffee canister to a barista who probably hears pitches all the time. But I knew that if I wanted to make this dream a reality, I had to push through that fear. So, I kept practicing, and slowly but surely, my confidence grew.
Eventually, I was running flash sales in those same coffee shops and even found myself at the airport, waiting for a flight, casually pitching our coffee canister to a Starbucks barista. Yep, I was that guy—carrying our product around and telling anyone who’d listen about how awesome it is for keeping coffee beans fresh. And you know what? It actually worked! I went from being the shy guy who was too nervous to approach anyone to confidently pitching our product to strangers in airports. I guess you could say I’ve come a long way.
Stepping onto the Big Stage: My Adventures at International Coffee Expos
As the project gained momentum, I got even more opportunities to connect with the market. In 2024, I had the chance to attend the SCA Coffee Expo in Chicago. This was like stepping into the Disneyland of the coffee world. I was out there pitching our product not just to local café owners and baristas but to distributors and coffee enthusiasts from all over the world. It was a total whirlwind of energy and expertise. Every pitch, every demo was a chance to show the world what makes our product stand out. And the best part? I made a ton of new friends—people who share the same passion for coffee and innovation. It felt like I was part of a global coffee community, all of us united by our love for that perfect cup of coffee.
But the adventure didn’t stop there. I also got to attend the WOC 2024 Expo in Copenhagen. This time, I wasn’t just pitching our product—I was behind the bar, mixing up my signature coffee cocktail called the Frangelico Coffee Sour. It was a blast watching people’s reactions as they sipped on this unique drink, blending the worlds of coffee and cocktails. Seeing our coffee canister in action in such a creative way really drove home the point that innovation isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about reimagining how we experience the things we love.
Inspiring the Next Generation: Paving the Way for Young Entrepreneurs
The success of this Youth Program didn’t just help me grow; it fired me up to bring more students into this entrepreneurial journey. By partnering with companies like OutPeak, we can keep pushing the envelope, creating solutions that speak to the needs of our generation and beyond. This isn’t just about bridging the gap between education and the real world; it’s about giving young entrepreneurs a platform to turn their ideas into reality and grow through the experience.
Our generation’s dreams shouldn’t be confined to textbooks or lecture halls. By getting out there and taking real action, we can turn those dreams into something tangible and meaningful. And along the way, we’ll learn, we’ll grow, and we’ll build the future we’ve always envisioned.
