This award means a great deal, as it reflects the work my team and I have put into building Dehusk from the ground up. The business was founded in response to a clear need in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia, and it’s encouraging to see that work recognised beyond the context in which it began. My time at King’s Business School played an important role in shaping how I approach building and growing a business.
Samuel Tecuala, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dehusk
28 January 2026
Alumnus wins major international business school award for plant-based milk start-up
A King’s Business School alumnus has taken the Start-up of the Year Award at the 2026 AMBA BGA Awards.
Samuel Tecuala (Business Management, 2023) is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dehusk, a plant-based milk business in the Philippines.
The AMBA BGA Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the global business school community, recognising students, alumni and institutions whose work demonstrates positive impact on business and society.
Launched in late 2024, Dehusk produces the Philippines’ first locally made, fortified coconut milk beverage designed for everyday consumption. The product was created in response to a significant market gap in a country where around 90 per cent of the population is lactose intolerant and where dairy and non-dairy alternatives are largely imported and often unaffordable.
The business sources coconut locally and produces the beverage domestically, supporting local supply chains and reducing reliance on imported dairy alternatives.
Reflecting on the role of his studies, Samuel credited his time at King’s with shaping the foundations of the business, from financial planning and supply-chain design to brand positioning and sustainable growth.
Samuel’s degree, BSc Business Management, offers a broad business education encompassing specialist fields such as marketing, finance and human resource management.
Samuel’s success highlights how our graduates translate their King’s Business School education into real-world impact. Dehusk highlights our graduates dedication to driving positive and sustainable change in society aligned with a clear understanding of local context, and we are proud to see this work recognised at an international level.
Professor Stephan Bach, Exective Dean of King’s Business School
On behalf of the AMBA & BGA team, I am thrilled to congratulate Samuel Tecuala on winning the Start‑Up of the Year Award 2026 for his outstanding venture, Dehusk. This award recognises entrepreneurial originality and meaningful innovation across our global community, and Samuel’s work exemplifies exactly the kind of bold thinking and real‑world impact we aim to celebrate.
Andrew Main Wilson, Chief Executive of the Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association (AMBA & BGA)
You can see the full list of winners on the AMBA BGA Awards website.
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Executive Dean, King’s Business School