In this edition, we’re excited to feature Delano, the Co-founder & CEO of kaisin. The story of kaisin. began in 2017, when four friends went on a trip to Southeast Asia, discovered the joy of bowls, and realised that Zurich was missing out on this fresh, healthy, and incredibly tasty trend. So, they opened their first pop-up, and the rest is history. Delano and his team have since continued to build the brand with the same passion and enthusiasm they had from day one. We chose to share Delano’s story because of the impressive journey he’s taken — from introducing Poke Bowls to Zurich to evolving kaisin. into a beloved destination for healthy, Asian-inspired bowls. His entrepreneurial path is a great example of how vision, creativity, and determination can turn a simple idea into a thriving business.
— Hi Delano, thanks for sitting down with us! We’d like to start discussing your early inspiration and motivation behind the creation of kaisin. First off, why poke bowls?
We discovered the product in Thailand in 2017 and were convinced that Zurich was missing out on it. So, we decided to bring this innovation to the city. Since 2024, we’ve shifted our focus from Poke to healthy, Asian-infused bowls.
— And did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? What made you take the leap?
I’ve always had an intrinsic motivation to be self-employed, and when this opportunity came along, I felt confident in the founding team and knew I had to take this chance.
— Now if we explore a bit more your entrepreneurial journey, what were the biggest obstacles you faced while growing your business, and how did you manage them?
COVID was a significant challenge. We constantly looked for innovative ideas to keep generating revenue. This not only helped us stay financially afloat but also ensured we remained top-of-mind with our existing customers while attracting many new ones.
— And what was the turning point for the business? What made you scale from a start up to a bigger company?
COVID was also the turning point. At that time, we were subleasing spaces in existing bars and cafés. We realised how dependent we were on our landlords, which led us to decide to build our own locations and operate independently.
— What’s the biggest financial risk you’ve taken?
Building our first store, kaisin. Talacker, was a huge financial risk. At the time, we didn’t conduct proper financial calculations, and there was a real fear we might not be able to pay our employees anymore. Thankfully, our strong relationships with our contractors allowed us to turn things around and keep the business afloat.
— And the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Never get lost, always keep focus!
— To conclude, can you share with us the next thing that’s on your bucket list?
Traveling to Japan 🙂
Thank you Delano for sharing pieces of your story! For those, who’re curious to know more about Delano’s journey, stay tuned, we have something cooking…
Read more entrepreneurial stories in our upcoming newsletters!
As community leader of Next Big Thing, Daniele helps the Bergos Next Community stay ahead of emerging trends and disruptive innovations. Daniele regularly highlights groundbreaking ideas, technologies, and movements poised to shape the future.