IT is no longer uncommon for someone as young as a teenager to become the chief executive of a certain business or an entrepreneur.

Startup businesses and e-commerce grew during the COVID-19 pandemic as Filipinos tried to find alternative sources of income.

In its March 2023 Tugon ng Masa survey, OCTA Research found that 78 percent of Filipinos aspire to become business owners because they want to manage their own schedule (31 percent), don’t have to report to or get along with an employer (30 percent), there won’t be limitations in their profits (16 percent), earn daily income (12 percent), and have the ability to work remotely (11 percent).

Many millennials and Gen Zs have now entered the entrepreneurial scene, including the owners of coffee shop 10/19 District, crochet online shop Mr. Gantsilyo, and jewelry line Tala By Kyla.

Meet the entrepreneurs

Varieties of beverages with locally-produced ingredients are the center of the 10/19 District, a cafe shop located in San Jose, Navotas, run by 28-year-old accountant Jei Kangken, who sits as the president and CEO of DAJK Corporation. 

Kangken built 10/19 District in December 2021 with the aim of showcasing locally-made products, such as coffee and cocoa, in its beverages that will suit the Filipinos’ palate. 

Aside from coffee, crocheted products like clothing and accessories have joined the list of trends that young people are obsessed with.

One of those who took an interest in it is 21-year-old Eduard San Luis, the skilled hands behind the arts and crafts shop, Mr. Gantsilyo. 

Crocheting is what kept San Luis productive when his town was placed under general community quarantine. He began making fluffy amigurumis or crocheted stuffed animals, and other wearables like boho tops and tote bags.

Seeing the potential in his craftsmanship, his friends and family encouraged him to make a living out of it. And so, in 2021, he built his online arts and crafts shop, which brings boxes filled with cute surprises to its customers.

This jewelry brand, meanwhile, has been on the list of gift options since it gained traction among young consumers for its “wear your story” campaign and pop-culture-inspired collections.

Owned by 22-year-old CEO Kyla Cañete, Tala By Kyla opened its second flagship store in SM Molino in Cavite in April 2023, five years after it was built.

The jewelry line was born out of Cañete’s love for ‘kikay’ stuff, like trinkets, since she was young.

Overcoming challenges

Success in business doesn’t happen overnight. There’s a lot of learning, planning, trying out things that will work, and, of course, challenges.

The first obstacle that 10/19 District had to face was the heightened alert level, which imposed capacity and mobility restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

It also became a challenge for Kangken and his team to emerge from the pool of coffee shops in the country. But through proper promotion and marketing, 10/19 District has been thriving by concocting their coffee uniquely.

“The lesson we take from this is that we should never be complacent. We are always reminded that we are just as good as we were yesterday. Learning never stops, so does improvement,” Kangken told republicasia.

There were also a few challenges that the full-time crochet artist encountered. One of those was when his father had a stroke and he had tons of commissions to finish.

San Luis had to balance his duties as a son and as a business owner who wants to make sure that orders are delivered on time. Doing both at the same time eventually led to burnout.

San Luis bounced back by taking the rest he needed and carefully planning his next steps.

“It’s like chess, where you have to think about your next move so that everything goes as planned,” he told republicasia.

The support from his crochet artist friends also helped him big time, he added.

It was also through the support of her family and employees that Cañete was able to power through. 

The Tala by Kyla owner recalled how she had to do most of the things a startup business has to do, from researching, to sales and marketing, to product development, to taking photos of the products, and to finding models.

Her family was also there to help their eldest daughter pack the jewelry.

With a great deal of effort and support from her team, Cañete succeeded in making her brand more known to the public. 

“Hard work doesn’t betray you. Sobrang dami na naming naranasan from the beginning, but we made sure that when the going gets tough, di kami sumuko,” she proved.

Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs

As many Filipinos are aspiring to be entrepreneurs, these three business owners have tips for them.

Kangken said aspiring entrepreneurs should be sure of the business they’re venturing into.

“If it is really your path, go for it. We have our own paths to take. Not every open road is for everybody,” he said.

San Luis, meanwhile, told them not to be discouraged easily when things aren’t smooth from the start. His advice is that they should know their market and keep sharpening their skills.

“Always be excited [about] what’s coming in the future,” San Luis said.

No matter what the future has in store for them, Cañete said they should not lose faith in themselves and their brand.

“It will get harder, like it’s bound to be, but that only means that you’re growing,” she said.

Online presence

Businesses have turned to e-commerce since the internet has become a powerful tool to further promote brands and reach more customers.

To further increase their online presence, Kangken believes that it is important for businesses to be creative and create their own branding.

San Luis, on the other hand, has simple advice: hop on the fun and observe creative trends online.

“Study the algorithm and the insights of your business. In this age of technology that we have, we can learn everything on the internet as long as the sources are reliable and helpful,” he said.