Melbourne, 7th November 2023, 29 year old, Serene Lim is a finalist in the Melbourne Young Entrepreneur Award category and the food and beverage category. The awards took place on Friday the 3rd of November 2023.
Serene states: “I am incredibly honoured and overjoyed to be named a finalist for the Melbourne Young Entrepreneur Awards. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of my amazing team, as well as the unwavering support from my family. I am immensely proud of how far we have come and excited about the future of both Cup 49 and Gellae. “
Serene Lim’s journey has not always been easy. Her parents were migrants and they worked incredibly hard to afford to live in Melbourne, Australia. Serene remembers doing letterbox drops to afford take away pizza as a teenager.
Serene runs DIY bubble tea kit business Cup49 and Gellae, a semi cured nail sticker kit business.
Serene says: “We moved from house to house because we could no longer afford rent and how we hustled together to make ends meet, to embark on a venture that’s changing lives, the journey has been nothing short of incredible. We’ve come a long way from doing letterbox drops as a family, earning just enough for 2 pizzas from Pizza Hut, to now creating opportunities for growth, not only for ourselves but also for others
It’s a deeply personal journey, especially considering that the sacrifices my family made were instrumental in the path I’ve taken. I’m honoured to now employ my family in the business, particularly my father who’s been tirelessly working night shifts for over a decade. He has now cut back from his night shift job to help us. It’s time for us to give back and ensure his health and happiness, after all that he’s done for us.”
