Ye Sen shares his unconventional journey from a polytechnic student who accidentally discovered his passion for food science to earning an Honours Degree in Food Technology from Massey University and co-founding Faesol Pte Ltd (iLite) at just 26 years old. After his final year project, a beverage recipe, was bought by a major Japanese MNC and made headlines, he and his project mate made a promise to start their own business together, a promise they've kept for over 11 years. As the technical leader overseeing product development and working directly with local and overseas distributors, Ye Sen reveals the harsh realities of the beverage industry, explaining why breaking into the ready-to-drink market is one of the toughest businesses to scale (even brands like Prime need massive celebrity backing), and breaks down the critical differences between home-based food businesses and proper food manufacturing that most people don't understand. He opens up about the difficult decision to leave a company he loved, where he witnessed friends build a multi-million dollar business heading for IPO, to pursue his own dream of creating sugar replacers and helping food service businesses improve their Nutri-grades. As Past President of BNI Synergy (one of Singapore's largest BNI chapters) and Ex Council Member of SIFST, Ye Sen shares how working with co-founders who are 12 years older has created both unique challenges and surprising advantages, providing a masterclass in building a food manufacturing empire from scratch with limited capital, maximum determination, and a mission to make a positive impact on the food industry.
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