Mike Boyd

Name: Mike Boyd

Business name: Cupstart

Age: 23

State: Queensland

Mike Boyd started Cupstart out of sheer frustration – he was sick and tired of waiting in around in coffee queues.

“I can’t stand bad coffee and the only other option was to queue for a decent brew. I developed Cupstart to allow me to order my coffee online, ahead of time, and collect it on arrival,” he says.

Cupstart also offers a prepaid option, dubbed the “E-Toll of coffee” by Boyd, so customers don’t have to sift through their wallets for cash or coins.

Boyd started his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 11, selling lost golf balls, before going on to launch no less than seven businesses.

As founder and director The Hive Brisbane, Boyd has built the largest not-for-profit community for entrepreneurs in Queensland, employing his first staff member at the age of 18.

He’s also the co-founder of Seventh Bloom, sits on the board of various other not-for-profits, and regularly attends events as a business speaker.

“Starting my first business at age 11, I knew I was destined to follow my own path. Not because others’ paths weren’t any good – they simply weren’t mine,” Boyd says.

“I truly believe that being an entrepreneur is one of the most surefire ways to making a difference in the world. After all, entrepreneurs spot opportunities where others see problems and find a solution that is of value to the market.”