From Waste to Wealth: How I Built a Business from Heineken Cans I Found at My Dad’s Bar

When I say I founded my dad’s subsidiary as a teenager, people usually laugh. But it’s true and it all started with a pile of Heineken cans.

My dad ran a prestige bar called “The Calm Spot.” It wasn’t just a bar; it was a full entertainment hub. He’s big on novelty and always wanted something new. Meanwhile, I was the “science kid,” with no clue where I fit in.

My relevance came during Project Week in school. I was assigned to the recycling team to come up with a fundable business idea. I’d read plenty about recycling, but this time we had to create something practical with little or no funding.

One afternoon while brainstorming at my dad’s bar, I saw the cleaner empty a huge sack of waste into the bin. It was full of Heineken cans. That was a regular sight since my dad stocked imported drinks from Alibaba, and Heineken was always among the top sellers.

I started researching and came up with creative ways to repurpose them, from wall art to small home décor items. The best part was that the raw materials were free, at least from my POV.

I drafted a short business plan and pitched it to my dad. He loved the idea. We turned it into a small side venture, collecting, cleaning, and selling upcycled décor made from used cans. That school project earned me an A, and today, I help manage parts of the supply chain for that very concept.

From being the outcast in the family business, I became the one who turned waste into value.