One Sneak Peek Into The Beans N Beats Revolution

Clubbing and partying may seem like a staple of local youth culture.

After all, what’s life without a dose of fun, right?

But going to clubs is also associated with binge drinking, sleeping at ungodly hours, and mixing with bad company.

It is no wonder that clubs do not really have a positive reputation amongst parents in general.

Enter Matteo, an ambitious youth that aims to revolutionise socialising and enjoyment for fellow youngsters in Singapore.

He runs Beans and Beats, where specialty coffee is served instead of alcohol, and alternative beats are played instead of the top 50 playlist that every other club uses.

Even better, their music events are usually held in the daytime, so no more returning home at sunrise with panda eyes.

That’s not all. He is also one of the co-founders of a digital marketing agency and previously founded an events management company which achieved a mid-six figure annual revenue.

And he’s only 20 years of age!

Want to know why he built all these and how he did it? Read on!

Here’s what I learnt from our short conversation together:

1. Always try to say ‘Yes’

At the end of 2022, my friends and I thought of planning a small event for the graduating cohort to celebrate the end of high school. What started as a casual gathering for our own enjoyment turned into something much bigger, with nearly 800 attendees by our second event. It became clear that graduating students were seeking a nightlife experience that was both accessible and safe, and our event fell squarely within that niche.

From that initial event with around 300 people, we continued to expand by forming new partnerships and collaborating with other clubs and businesses. By the end of 2023, we had developed six unique IPs and brands, each targeting different demographics in Singapore. Our events were built on the understanding that people crave safe, social connections, and our team aimed to be the versatile, mobile events organization that could curate these experiences.

Through these ventures, I learned that opportunities often arise from a casual conversation with friends, a meaningful discussion with a mentor, or even a random thought during personal reflection. This taught me the value of being rigorous when developing new opportunities and ideas. When faced with new opportunities, I sought to adeptly develop new synergies between the core product, and the communities or network that surround it.

Similarly, as I’d embarked on a 3-month hiatus on the nightlife business, one of my friends picked up coffee brewing.  He suggested we open a café, but I thought the initial capital investment would be too high. Instead, we settled on selling coffee at events with a DJ, creating opportunities for connection and community among our peers. This led to the creation of “Beans and Beats.”

2. Be an Impact-Driven Individual

My transition from working in the nightlife business felt essential. I don’t have a particular passion for nightlife or alcohol beyond that of a typical teenager, and the long nights left me exhausted—often getting home at 6-7 a.m. on weekends. Though the industry was surging in opportunities, I realized that this work did not align with the kind of impact I wanted to make.

I wanted to be an impact-driven individual, working on personal projects and businesses that would bring a meaningful change that I wanted to see in the world. While I still respect those in the nightlife industry and am grateful for the lessons it taught me, I didn’t want to continue solely for profit. Instead, I took time to reflect on the values I wanted to bring to my community and peers—Beans and Beats was a great step in this direction.

At 20 years old, I’m not entirely sure what “impact” will look like over the next decade. However, I hope to stay committed to working within and with people and organizations that prioritize the effect they have on others, both in their business practices and in the outcomes they achieve.

Connect with Matteo here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matteo-lie-hidajat-079141216/

And that is all for today’s One Sneak Peek Into.

Stay tuned for more insights from our interview series as we continue to explore the stories of trailblazers breaking barriers and redefining success.