SMU alumnus and founder of The Kettle Gourmet Zac Chua, who studied business at SMU, first tried his hand at starting a business during his school days. He had the advantage of getting guidance from his father, who used to run a paint company. After graduation, Mr Chua officially registered The Kettle Gourmet, which provides snacks and beverages for offices and events. The average age of his 11 member team is 22 years old, the majority of whom are recruited through universities. Mr Chua shared that his new hires must possess general knowledge and good emotional quotient, instead of just simply having sterling academic qualification, which is of the lowest priority for him.