1. LARS MAEHLER

Age: 22

Nationality: German

Education: 2nd year Global Business and Management at HKUST

Company/Organisation: Sakka Charity & Rezonance Entertainment

Busy is the best way to describe this ambitious bee. How many people do you know who whilst still at university, start up and maintain extra-curricular adventure camps (read: piss-ups), organise prestigious and successful fundraisers for the charity that they also manage and promote and idolise two giants of business, Richard Branson and Donald Trump? We know of one. What influenced you to start Sakka? My inspiration to do good came from experience. I helped out at the tsunami relief programs and that’s when I first felt that type of reward. Ever since, I’ve been using that as my fundamental guideline; that gratitude is better than financial reward.

What is your ultimate goal?

To hold a huge reggae party or rave at the convention centre. I’d love to just throw an awesome party that people won’t forget on a yearly basis!

What’s been your best experience so far?

In one week, with sleep deprivation, the team and I managed to pull off the Shut Down On Safari party last Halloween with a 300 plus turn up.

Are you living off your own earnings yet?

Partially actually. I still need mum and dad’s help here and there. University tuition fees…

Does being an entrepreneur get you chicks?

I wish it did but not really. I’m always too busy for chicks.

Can you grow a beard yet?

I’m obviously trying too hard right now. I’m growing it till December and going for the Santa look.

Is what you’re doing related to what your parents do?

Not at all. My dad is an engineer and mum is just a house mum. She’s caring.

What are you listening to right now?

Jah Cure. A reggae god!

Would you rather be a wizard, a fairy, a sniper, a werewolf, a velociraptor or a stool?

A stool, depending on which bar.

Would you ever take on interns?

Definitely. I’d teach them the ropes.

What’s your favourite Cantonese word?

Mh goi! It’s just a nice word. Not naughty.

What do you think you’d be called if you were a lady?

Helga. That’s just the way I roll.

2. DAN NEVILLE

Age: 20

Nationality: Britsh

Education: A-Level Art & Graphic Design

Company/organization: OZUKHK

With the goal of creating a hub for young creative minds, Dan started by working towards hosting a ‘live arts’ event which allows artists to design and create on the spot and then display and sell their creations. Six years into designing, spurred on from a childhood passion for all things eye-pleasing, Dan sources his inspiration from his mixed geographical background, with both local and international styles colouring his work.

What are your influences?

I’m patriotic towards Kong Kong, despite me not being from here. It gives me a different sort of connection; an awareness of the subculture instead of being too immersed. Through subculture, you look through different avenues. I’m emotionally and physically attached to Hong Kong’s environment and I use that to create my stuff, which I think comes across as local and has almost a shock factor when people see it and then realise I’m a foreigner. I’d be a reverse Siu Mai – white on the outside, yellow on the inside.

What’s been your best experience so far?

Designing, managing and producing a global marketing meeting for a big shoe company. It was a challenge but the outcome was successful.

Are you living off your own earnings yet?

Yes! Whether my parents like it or not, I’ve been funding my own lifestyle. Well…not everything.

Does being an entrepreneur get you chicks?

Not so much. I’ve got nothing to show for it. No cash in the bank.

Can you grow a beard yet?

Yes I can, but it’s ginger.

Is what you’re doing related to what your parents do?

Very much so. My mum is a floral/cake decorator at Floral Floral. I support her and she supports me.

What is your ultimate goal?

Ultimately to boost public involvement by starting a creative urban centre for kids. Right now there is no real hub for designers and artists. It will give artists a chance to meet and mingle.

Would you ever take on interns?

Definitely, because you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t meet people.

What are you listening to right now?

Dub FX.

Would you rather be a wizard, a fairy, a sniper, a werewolf, a velociraptor or a stool?

A what? As in a chair? Wh….

What’s your favourite Cantonese word?

The other day I was looking for the word ‘sausage’, so cheung zai.

What do you think you’d be called if you were a lady?

………

3. HUGHIE DOHERTY

Age: 20

Nationality: Hong Kong/British

Education: A-Level Art, Design & Technology, Mathematics

Company/Organisation: Third Square

Over the sound of a pricking tattoo needle, Hughie tells (with the occasional pause to wince) how he and partner Luke Halsall started their ‘branding identity & commissioned artwork’  company. Looking to avoid the embarrassment of handing a client a receipt signed ‘Hughie & Luke’, they decided to go professional and create Third Square.

What are your influences?

I guess what influenced us to start out was when we found out it was cheap and fairly easy to create a company. We also figured we’d be doing what we like and thought we might as well be making money whilst doing it.

What is your ultimate goal?

To go to university. We’d keep the company registration, put it on hold and hopefully, depending on its success, come back to it.

What’s your best experience so far?

It’s always when I show a client my work and see them happy.

Are you living off your own earnings yet?

Ish…sort of…getting there. I don’t take much help but little bits here and there.

Does being an entrepreneur get you chicks?

No. I’ve got a long term girlfriend.

Can you grow a beard yet?

Nah, but I blame it on the fact that I’m Asian.

Is what you’re doing related to what your parents do?

My mum is an artist. She has her own studio called The Studio. It’s not a design company but it’s still in the art business.

What are you listening to right now?

‘Up, Up and Away’ by Kid Cudi.

Would you rather be a wizard, a fairy, a sniper, a werewolf, a velociraptor or a stool?

… What kind of fairy? Probably the werewolf.

Would you ever take on interns?

Yeah!

What’s your favourite Cantonese word?

I don’t really know Cantonese.. Jyun Jo?

What do you think you’d be called if you were a lady?

Oh my god I don’t know! Um..Mrs. Doherty?