Lucky Min
Bachelor of Business
Start-up: Lucky Eatz
Flavours of ambition – from refugee to blending culture, community and opportunity through food.
Nineteen-year-old Lucky Min arrived in New Zealand as a refugee at the age of three, and now he’s serving up inspiration and food to a new generation of young entrepreneurs in Auckland.
The young business owner is the founder of Lucky Eatz, a food business blending culture, community and ambition which he runs while also studying business at AUT.
For Lucky, food is more than sustenance – it’s a vibrant expression of his multicultural upbringing. He arrived in New Zealand as a refugee from Myanmar and now lives in Glen Innes in Auckland.
“The food that I make is a combination, and it's inspired by various cultures that reflect my upbringing and the environment that I grew up around. It's a combination between Asian food and a fusion between Polynesian-inspired food,” he explains.
Signature dishes like panikeke (Samoan pancakes/doughnuts), keke ‘isite (Tongan doughnuts) and keke pua’a (Samoan pork buns) aren’t just menu items but representations of his personal story and the community he loves.
But the entrepreneurial path has challenges. “It’s not easy, I’ll just say that, but it’s a journey well worth it. You get many opportunities, and it opens various career pathways that you can explore.”
Despite the obstacles he’s faced, Lucky thrives on the fast pace and the chance to align his strengths with new opportunities. “I live a really active, fast, productive life, so I like that whole entrepreneurial mindset and values,” he says.
Support has played a crucial role in Lucky’s journey. Through the Ara Tipu Summer School pilot and He Kākano funding, he’s found a sense of belonging.
“I related myself to my journey, and I related to the panel members as well, and what helped me through it was just remembering my why and what the reasons are that I'm here.”
"Having my family at the back of my mind and that support system is something special," he says.
Lucky is also giving back and using Lucky Eatz as a platform to support other youth on their entrepreneurial journeys. “We encourage youth voices and foster confidence in youth and local youth. Just helping them get started,” he says.
He’s excited to see what his peers will create, knowing that with the right support and a clear sense of purpose, young entrepreneurs can turn their dreams into reality.
Lucky has big dreams for his future, as the funding will allow him to expand his business, and he hopes one day to be operating food trucks and spreading his unique blend of flavours across Auckland.
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