Youth Entrepreneurship｜Post-97 liberal arts students enter the business sector to create a car rental platform with a monthly income of over 200,000, business increases due to the epidemic

District 18 News

Written by: Lu Nuojun

2021-04-30 08:00

Last update date: 2021-04-30 08:00

Many young people have entrepreneurial dreams, but they may not succeed if they have dreams without relevant knowledge and support.

In recent years, a liberal arts student born after 1997 has jumped into the business world to create a car rental platform before graduating. He admitted that he failed because of lack of business experience in the early years, but after receiving advice and help from professionals , Now the platform is gradually on track.

In addition, he also found partners with different expertise to form a team. All industries are sluggish under the epidemic, but this car rental platform caters to market needs in a timely manner, and business is on the rise.

For the liberal arts student Ken to break into the business world, he founded the car rental platform Carful.

(Photo by Lu Nuojun)

24-year-old Li Sang-kyun (Ken) loves cars. He recalled that after getting the license plate at the age of 18, he bought the first car in a joint venture of 8,000 yuan with a friend, but he didn't drive often at that time.

He later noticed that the problem of idle cars in Hong Kong is very common, and at the same time knowing that foreign car sharing culture is very mature, so he thought that in Hong Kong, you can also earn income by renting out cars.

At the age of 18, Ken has had his first taste of starting a business. At the peak of his time, he owned a total of eight cars with his friends, but eventually ended in business failure.

After Ken entered the Department of Chinese and History at CityU in 2019, he went to the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) to seek entrepreneurial support. In addition to obtaining professional advice and entrepreneurial space, he also had the opportunity to participate in Taiwan "2019 Meet Taipei Innovation and Entrepreneurship Carnival" sprouted and deepened the idea of ​​creating a smart car rental platform Carful.

Ken pointed out that Carful currently operates mainly on social platforms and phones. It has a total of 20 cars for rent, with a rental rate of 90%, and an average monthly income of more than 200,000 yuan. In October last year, it received an investment of 5 million yuan from angel investors.

Under the epidemic situation, those who focused on the youth market launched plans such as car camping in response to Hong Kong people’s inability to travel abroad to cater to the needs of the market, describing that business has increased during this period.

CityU aims to invest 500 million yuan to help students set up start-ups

Ken also pointed out that the team will set up mobile apps and websites in the next step. It also plans to develop the Internet of Vehicles and auto financial technology to help car owners solve the problem of car idleness and promote a sharing economy culture.

As a liberal arts student, he believes that students of different backgrounds can start their own businesses, and through some networking sessions, you can find partners with different expertise, which is more ideal than "single fights".

Ken also revealed that he would participate in the large-scale innovation and entrepreneurship program "HK Tech 300" implemented by the City University of Hong Kong, hoping to build a broader network of people through the program to promote the company's next development.

Luo Xuan, Associate Vice President of the City University of Hong Kong, said that the "HK Tech 300" project is divided into four stages: "recruitment and training", "seeding", "cultivation" and "development". Funding training guidance, seed funds and angel funds will be provided. , To help student teams transform their ideas into start-up projects, and provide co-creation space and related support for start-up projects through the network established with the business community. The goal is to invest 500 million Hong Kong dollars in the next three years to help City University students set up 300 Start-ups.

City University students, alumni, and researchers who aspire to become entrepreneurs, as well as those who use City University’s intellectual property to set up start-ups, can apply to participate in this program.

CityU scoops 500 million yuan for launching its entrepreneurial plan, cultivating 300 start-ups in 3 years

Hong Kong's first youth entrepreneurship online fair for secondary school students to start a business and sell local specialty products under the epidemic

01Community

Entrepreneur City University