A New Zero Waste Vision
Welcome back to the Innovative Business Visions Series, where we bring our alumni’s phenomenal entrepreneurship and innovation stories to you. Next in the series is Kelvin TSUI, BSc in Quantitative Finance (2023), Co-founder and CEO of ReCube.
Kelvin Tsui daringly ventured into sustainability when he co-founded the social enterprise ReCube shortly after graduating in 2023. He is on a mission to provide a convenient reusable tableware rental service, presenting a truly zero-waste alternative to current disposable takeaway options.
The idea for ReCube emerged when Kelvin noticed the overwhelming amount of disposable takeaway tableware he accumulated while recovering from COVID-19. Despite the prevailing misconception that sustainability is costly and troublesome, Kelvin is determined to cultivate a new mindset: “Our aim is to prove that sustainability can be easily achieved, convenient, and rewarding.”
From Finance to Social Impact
Despite graduating with a degree in quantitative finance – a prestigious program that typically leads graduates into the banking and financial industry, Kelvin decided to take a different path. Since his first year at HKUST, he wanted address societal issues through his finance knowledge. Kelvin was also actively involved with University YMCA – HKUST (Uni-Y), where his volunteering experience deeply motivated him to seek a career just as meaningful and impactful. This realization led him to pursue a minor in entrepreneurship and gain the necessary skills to become a social entrepreneur.
Along with his three co-founders, Kelvin began working on ReCube as a student. Supported by the Entrepreneurial Development Fund organized by the HKUST Entrepreneurship Centre (EC), they launched a pilot scheme in collaboration with HKUST’s Sustainability Unit and catering vendors on campus. “Through EC, we also gained mentorship and business support and vital connections with other alumni and entrepreneurs,” he says. “We wouldn’t be able to achieve what we’ve done so far with EC!”
Introducing a New Zero-waste Solution
Kelvin’s social entrepreneurship venture coincides with the Hong Kong government’s policy changes to ban single-use plastics. Leveraging this opportunity, ReCube is set to offer the city a viable circular alternative to disposable takeaway tableware. However, expanding its restaurant network poses specific logistical and operational challenges. Kelvin’s financial expertise enables him to bring an outsider’s perspective into sustainability and deliver business value to partnering restaurants, which has made significant progress by establishing partnerships with 32 restaurants around Hong Kong when this article was written, including sensory ZERO, also founded by our alumnus at HKUST Business School.
Securing funding is also a common challenge for many social enterprises. “Our revenue is still limited even though we’re generating impact,” he explains. “But my ability to speak the same language with potential investors and funders makes it easier for me to articulate our business and social values.”
 |
 |
Left: With a strong passion of making an impact, Kelvin (in the second left) joined the University YMCA-HKUST program coordinated by HKUST Connect once studying at HKUST.
Right: Kelvin was part of the Hong Kong Fencing Team and trained at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. He always returns to campus and support the HKUST fencing team after graduation.
A Call to Entrepreneurship
Kelvin’s social enterprise is a testament to entrepreneurship’s pivotal role in driving sustainable change. With a steadfast commitment to zero waste and a resilient mindset, he encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities at HKUST and beyond. “Some of my friends hesitate to take the first step because entrepreneurship requires time and resources,” he says. “But as students, we have time to spare, and we can leverage support at HKUST to get started and test our ideas.”
Even with the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, Kelvin believes the experience gained is instrumental to his career, regardless of the success rate. As he continues to expand ReCube’s presence in Hong Kong, his story inspires those who dare to innovate and contribute towards a zero-waste future.
