CHICAGO- Owning your own business is a dream for many college students. They study business and journal about future plans, but for Qiling Jiang, owning a business has already become a reality.
On October 9, student-owned businesses CUUB and Kupid Dating joined forces for a live dating show at DePaul University, sponsored by multiple companies, including Kaizen Collective Apparel.
“CUUB is cofounded by Nick, Jovan, and Vlad,” Jiang said. “We’ve seen each other around at CEO Club, and I shot them a text saying, ‘Hey, I see you guys are hosting this event, are you looking for sponsors?’ And here we are.”
I first met Qiling Jiang, the founder of Kaizen, at the DePaul Activities Board Fall Flea market in the Quad. I was captured by the quality of the shirts and the intriguing designs, and I learned that Kaizen is just beginning.
“I started at Innovation Expo this year, where I showed off the designs and the idea,” Jiang said. “I went off to join the Social Impact Incubator Program at The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, and then I went on to pitch my business at Purpose Pitch, where I placed second in the student section.”
To those who dream of creating their own business, Jiang gives this advice:
“Just try it. You never know where things are going to end up,” Jiang said. “And if you don’t try, it’s always going to be in the back of your mind. Even if you try and you fail, at least you’ll have something memorable and fun. It’s a great learning experience. Even if your first business doesn’t work out, maybe your next one will, or your next two will, but the experience that you get from starting your first one will carry on into future endeavors.”
Jiang represented DePaul at Pitch Madness, where she was then provided with funding to make the shirts. It has now been three months since the launch.
“We started posting a bunch on our Instagram page,” Jiang said. “We’re just trying to promote it now and get the word out there, and I believe we have a great product of great quality and great meaning and purpose.”
Kaizen can be found on Instagram under @kaizen_collective_apparel, where you can find more of their martial arts-inspired streetwear.
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