23-Year-Old Turned a $150 Beer Kit Into Six Figures (Learn How)
Table of Contents
1. The Idea Behind Breer
2. Getting The Taste Right
3. Hitting Hong Kong’s Beer Scene (+ Startup Funding)
4. Aim For Sustainable Growth
5. Breer’s Sustainability Vision
6. Breer’s Game Plan
7. What Entrepreneurs Should Learn From Anushka Purohit
8. Here’s The Point…
Entrepreneurship is a risky gig, but if you have what it takes, it pays big time. But only about half of startups stick around for five years, and only a quarter make it to 15.
For every big shot like Amazon.com or Uber, there are tons of companies hardly anyone remembers.
So, what’s the magic that separates winners from losers?
When a business nails it, it’s because it made the right moves — it figured out how to dish up the value that keeps customers returning using the available sources.
If you’re keen on getting into entrepreneurship or just starting your own thing, learn from others who made it big and figure out what choices kept their business going.
Take a look at the story of this 23-year-old who spent $150 on a homebrew kit and turned it into a cash cow startup called Breer. Read on for some key lessons from her to get your dream business going.
The Idea Behind Breer
When Anushka Purohit was just 10, she was shocked to see a Starbucks worker throwing away cakes and sandwiches. Ten years later, that memory inspired her to start a business, turning extra bread into craft beer.
You know how at hotel breakfast and on flights, they always give you some bread — there’s so much of it in our meals that a bunch goes to waste.
Purohit and her three university friends came up with this idea while stuck doing online classes during the Hong Kong protests and lockdown.
Seeing their friends drinking alcohol, they thought of making their own and being the cool kids.
They got a beer brewing kit from Amazon and experimented for three weeks until they brewed a batch.
The first taste wasn’t great, but it made them realise this idea could work.
As an aspiring entrepreneur, there’s a lesson for you to learn here — train yourself to see possibilities where others see problems.
Instead of seeing roadblocks, view them as chances to innovate, create solutions, and meet needs that others might have overlooked.
Keep an eye out for unmet needs or pain points in your own life or the lives of people in your social circle. These unaddressed issues can be great chances to come up with amazing ideas for your business.
Also, they recognized the interest in sustainability and craft beer and combined both. Being able to spot trends and then capitalise on them is what it takes to be successful.
When you can read the room (identify what’s catching people’s attention) and then blend those elements into what you offer, that’s the ticket.
Getting The Taste Right
If you are thinking about launching a product, you might want to pinch a few tricks from Purohit’s playbook — always start small. They experimented and iterated until they found a viable product.
The team spent about half a year perfecting Breer’s taste before launching it in 2020.
Put together a basic version or a prototype, then share it with a few people to see what they think.
Feedback is super valuable because it tells you what works, what needs fixing, and what might be missing.
Every time you gather feedback, you can make your product a bit better. And it helps you avoid making big mistakes or missing the mark with what your audience wants.
That’s what they did: Aside from their pale ale and hibiscus sour, they’ve got beers flavoured with egg tart, bolo bao, and pineapple bun — a nod to Hong Kong’s vibrant food scene.
Hitting Hong Kong’s Beer Scene (+ Startup Funding)
Of course, with all that effort and a brilliant plan, they manifested success — since then, they’ve made around HK$2.5 million in revenue over the past few years. This year, Breer has already hit HK$1.8 million in sales and expects HK$1.2 million in profits.
The startup hasn’t sought funding but has earned approximately HK$6 million through competitions without giving up ownership.
This shows the potential of bootstrapping and alternative funding sources. Often, entrepreneurs jump the gun and end up giving away too much of their stake too soon.
Besides handing out slices of the pie (meaning less of a share in the business for yourself and your partners from the start), that might also lead to a dip in control.
That means less say in the big decisions that steer the business according to your initial vision. More owners often mean more opinions, and not everyone’s singing from the same song sheet.
So, if you’re ever in such a situation, don’t give away ownership without exploring all the available funding avenues (equity shares are the most expensive source of funds, after all).
Aim For Sustainable Growth
When running a business, you must take it steady and ensure you’ve got your ducks in a row before going all in into a new market. You have to assess if you’ve got the resources and market insights to make it happen.
You need to check if your kit is up to scratch. That means looking at your cash flow, team, and tech — ensuring it’s all set to scale up without leaving your current setup in the lurch.
Do your homework — get insights into your new market, know your target audience, their needs, and any hurdles you might run into. Adapt your plan to suit the locals, play by the rules, and have a solid strategy for getting your foot in the door.
That way, you’re dodging the risks of rushing into new territory. You keep your quality great, keep your customers happy, and set yourself up for smooth sailing as you grow.
Always find that sweet spot between ambition and being savvy, making sure your growth’s sustainable and fits right into your big picture.
That’s why expanding overseas isn’t in Breer’s immediate plans; it’ll only happen if it’s sustainable. For now, they prefer collaborating with local bakeries and breweries rather than shipping outside Hong Kong.
Breer’s Sustainability Vision
According to Purohit, sustainability isn’t about going without. You don’t have to make big sacrifices; just grab a drink that’s more sustainable while you’re having fun.
Breer’s whole business model is sustainable and an open book. It’s the top thing that sets them apart from the rest.
When a business bothers to inform their customers about eco-friendly processes, it changes things.
Sharing the details about sustainability and offering easy ways to make green choices helps people make better environmental choices.
Being upfront about the steps a business takes to be more sustainable builds trust. When customers know what’s going on behind the scenes, it creates a bond and shows the business isn’t just in it for the cash.
Breer’s Game Plan
In Hong Kong, each person throws out around 71 kilograms (that’s 156 pounds) of food every year. But that’s where Breer sniffed out a perfect chance. Here’s how they turned this problem into a profitable business:
1. Seizing the Opportunity
Breer’s game plan is simple: scoop up leftover bread from local joints — restaurants, bakeries, and those Hong Kong-style diners, cha chaan tengs — for free. Then, off to the contract breweries it goes, churning out 4,000 to 6,000 litres of crafted beer six times a year.
2. Adaptation in the Brew
The amount of beer brewed varies. Purohit, the brains behind Breer, manages her supply according to demand.
As a business, you have to be flexible with your business models, production schedules, and what you’re putting out there to keep sailing through the rough seas of demand changes.
So, they pivot when something like COVID hits and demand goes haywire — no point in drowning in excess stock, right? They’re rolling with the punches, brewing only when people are thirsty.
Flexibility in production means being able to chop and change your output based on what your customers want.
Think about dishing out products only when the demand is there with strategies like just-in-time manufacturing and dodging the cost of keeping stacks of stuff nobody wants.
3. Navigating Through the Pandemic
During the pandemic, bread waste skyrocketed. Shops couldn’t gauge the daily appetite. One day, they’d sell a heap; the next, crickets. Shops ended up with more bread than a baker’s dozen.
Breer, though, didn’t let it go to waste. They shared the extra loaves with the elderly, the have-nots, or as food for pigs and chickens.
Teaming up with local joints is a great way for businesses to back each other and get the word out to more locals. This partnership can reel in new customers who want to support local businesses.
Also, when people see businesses stepping up to help out, they’re more likely to back them. It’s a win-win that helps businesses grow while also supporting the community.
What Entrepreneurs Should Learn From Anushka Purohit
Being a young entrepreneur in the game means copping some skepticism. But persistence’s the name of the game. Purohit copped a lot of doubts and questions, but she didn’t chuck in the towel.
She kept at it; that kind of tenacity is gold in entrepreneurship. Rejections are part of the deal, but sticking it out often pays off.
When Purohit kicked off by hitting up bakeries for their leftover bread, she got a lot of, “You just became of legal drinking age. How do you even know how to brew beer?” and “How do I believe you won’t just take the bread [for yourself]?”
But after pushing for two weeks, the first bakery she hit up gave her 2 kilos of leftover bread, with a catch — she had to bring back the beer she brewed from it. And she pulled it off!
Here are a few pieces of advice she offers to her fellow young and aspiring entrepreneurs:
1. Be Passionate About What You’re Doing
“If you have passion and purpose for something, the profits will flow. If there’s even an ounce of you that doesn’t like what you’re doing, you’re going to find reasons or excuses not to do it.”
If you’re passionate about what you’re doing and are fired up about it, chances are you’re onto something good. It’s what keeps you going when things get rocky.
See, when your heart’s in it, people can tell. Customers, investors, everyone. They’re drawn to your genuine enthusiasm, and that’s basically a requirement for building a solid brand.
But here’s the thing: You can’t fake it. If there’s even a sniff of insincerity or if you’re not fully into what you’re doing, it’s going to show. That lack of belief can turn customers off and make it challenging to keep pushing when things get tough.
The real lesson here? Stay true, and stay real. Your passion is your secret weapon. It helps you solve problems, keeps you hustling when times are rough, and is your business’s backbone.
Just remember, though, to look after yourself too. Burning out because you’re too full-on about something isn’t going to help anyone, especially your business. So, keep that passion burning bright, but also find that balance.
2. You’ll Never Know If You Don’t Try
“I would not be here had if I hadn’t taken that one chance. You should definitely take the first step.”
Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith — you won’t ride it if you don’t paddle into it first. For entrepreneurs, it all starts with an idea or a crack at an opportunity that needs a go.
Starting a business or chasing a new gig means you’re ready to take those calculated risks, knowing you won’t know until you give it a fair shake.
Chances come your way when you least expect them. Being open to taking a chance helps you spot and grab these opportunities, even if they initially seem unconventional or uncertain.
Fear of falling flat often holds people back. But realizing you must see where things land helps beat that fear. Failing is part of the ride but also a chance to learn.
3. Be Careful with Your Money
“Money is not the only investment that you need. All the money we have earned has gone back into the business.”
It’s not just about having money; it’s about knowing where to put it. Reinvesting the money back into your business is like planting seeds for the future.
Be smart with your finances and use your earnings to keep the business growing. That’s the core of good money management for business: ensuring every buck counts.
You must also weigh the risks, carefully consider how much you throw back in, and stash a bit for a rainy day. So, it’s a balancing act, knowing when to reinvest in the business and when to keep some cash for a safety net.
Here’s The Point…
If you’re dreaming big, take a leaf out of Breer’s book. Turn problems into opportunities, keep improving, and, most importantly, stay true to your passion.
Be resilient and adaptable when things get tough. Instead of hitting a dead end, pivot and find intelligent solutions. Think innovatively and keep levelling up — constant improvement and passion make a business a success story.
