The entrepreneurial spirit of the Universidad del Pacífico's students continues to make an impact on the university community. Fresh It, an innovative venture that emerged at the UP, has opened its second site in Lima, reaffirming its commitment to offer students fresh and nutritious food choices through its vending machines.
Fresh It was founded by Paulo Vargas, a student of International Business at UP, alongside two students at other universities. The team identified a lack of nutritious and convenient options at university campuses, and opted to utilize what, in Peru, remains an under-explored sales tool: vending machines. Paulo explained their thinking: “As students, we saw a clear need within universities: healthy, practical, and accessible options.” Subsequently, Pedro Ramos, an Economics graduate from the UP, joined the project, become a key member of the team in its journey toward growth and expansion.
Overcoming challenges to grow
The path has not been easy. In the beginning, as Paulo noted, one of the most difficult decisions was finding sites for the machines. "The main challenge was deciding where to place them. We succeeded by sending messages, emails, and calling different universities." Currently, their main challenge is financing: "At this stage of growth, the biggest challenge is access to capital. We are constantly seeking out loans and take part in startup competitions to fund our expansion.”
From a single machine at the UP to an expansion plan
Fresh It has evolved significantly since it placed its first machine at the UP campus. Paulo explains: "We have grown steadily and rapidly. Now we are about to install our third machine and, although the journey has been challenging, it has been full of lessons learned." Alongside the expansion, Paulo and his partners have enhanced their business management approach, making decisions in a more informed and structured way.
The response from students and the university community in general has been extremely positive. "We have had an exceptional reception. On average, on four of the five days we operate per week, we sell out of our stock in both locations, and the feedback about our salads has been very positive," Paulo remarked.
The growth of Fresh It shows no signs of slowing. Soon, the startup will install a machine at the UTEC and add a second one at the UCSUR. The goal is to install around 15 additional machines by the end of 2025, thus consolidating its business model and presence in the market.
The key role of Emprende UP
One of the cornerstones of Fresh It's growth has been the support provided by Emprende UP. "It has given us constant support through social media, recommending competitions and advising us on our journey as a venture. It has been a key component, and we are very grateful for it," added Paulo.
The young entrepreneur also cited the value of the business incubator in developing student startups: "Emprende UP provides an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, with highly experienced advisors, contacts, events and key tools for turning ideas into real projects."
The impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem
The case of Fresh It is testament to the impact that innovative ideas can have when allied with determination, continuous learning, and institutional support. For those students who have a business idea but are still hesitant about taking the first step, Vargas has clear advice: "It is normal to feel afraid and not know where to start. This happened to me. The important thing is to take decisions that make it possible to connect the dots and turn the dream of entrepreneurship into reality."
We at the Universidad del Pacífico congratulate this great team for taking their offer to more and more universities and for demonstrating the potential of student entrepreneurship to transform realities.