What’s the inspiration behind The Kusp Hub and what problem are you seeking to solve?
The Kusp Hub was inspired by a deeply personal and observed gap within the creative industries. After learning that access to career opportunities often depends on who you know, not what you know; it was clear that talent from Black and Global majority and lower socioeconomic groups, experienced firsthand the systemic barriers in sectors like film, TV, fashion, and other media spaces.
I began trying to address this issue of access through our not-for-profit, The Kusp. A curated community providing industry training, networking and job opportunities. The Kusp Hub was born from this mission; an AI-powered, scalable solution to bridge the equity gap, helping diverse talent connect with real, paid opportunities to work and upskill locally, nationally and globally.
You previously worked in a start-up. How has this experience informed your own entrepreneurial journey?
Through working in a start-up, I learnt the importance of having a clear strategic vision, a high-performing, aligned team, and putting people at the heart of how you work. I also learned that early-stage ventures must focus - do fewer things well, validate quickly, and iterate fast. We’ve applied this mindset to The Kusp Hub, staying lean, responsive, and committed to building based on user feedback.
Why did you decide to apply for the King’s Start-up Accelerator?
My co-founder, Binh (a King’s alumnus in Computer Science), spoke highly of the King's Start-up Accelerator and after doing further research we recognised there was a great opportunity to access top-tier mentorship, resources and a supportive network that could help us refine our strategy, validate our product with expert guidance, and give us the momentum we needed to build a scalable and socially impactful venture. As a purpose-driven start-up tackling inequity within the creative industries, we felt that the accelerator would be a perfect fit for us. Luckily, the King's Accelerator team agreed!
Your co-founder Binh is a King’s alumnus. How important has it been to have a founding team with complimentary skills and experience?
It's been crucial to the momentum we've managed to build. Binh has a strong tech background as a backend developer, with deep insights in building tech products. I focus on the marketing/branding and operational side, looking at commercial growth, marketing strategy and product management. This balance ensures we remain grounded in real user needs, while executing a scalable business model. We are also both aligned on doing good for society and improving circumstances for underrepresented groups through our start-up, ensuring we are aligned on the long-term vision for The Kusp Hub.
Now you’re reaching the end of the King's Start-up Accelerator, how would you describe your experience?
Refreshing. It was a great opportunity to clarify our roadmap, understand our start-up needs, discover new tools and resources, and most importantly build valuable relationships in the entrepreneurial space.
Looking back at where you started, and where you are now, what has been your biggest achievement on the accelerator?
Biggest achievement since we started 12 months ago, would probably be landing our first paid user on the platform. It was a memorable experience for Binh and I, to head to the offices of our client, present the platform to members of their team and hear firsthand feedback on how the platform could be beneficial to them in the long-run. Since then, we have added 10+ more employers onto the platform.
What’s next for you? What impact are you hoping to create with your start-up?
The plan is to grow our community exponentially before the end of 2025. Ensure underserved and emerging talent can efficiently and conveniently access affordable training to upskill and land jobs in a changing creative economy. Our journey begins in the film, TV and advertising sectors within the UK, before expanding into other creative sectors nationally, and then internationally. We are on a mission to build an ecosystem where both employers and talent can connect and thrive locally, nationally and globally.
***
Image courtesy of The Kusp Hub.
Learn more about The Kusp Hub on their website.
The Entrepreneurship Institute supports students, staff and alumni, to start and scale their ideas and ventures through the King's Start-up Accelerator. If you would like to know more, check out our website.