Andy Nguyen is co-founder of Afters Ice Cream, Matte Black Coffee, and many more restaurant ventures; he’s sort of something of a serial entrepreneur, his journey includes everything from real estate to streetwear to food. Born in Orange County, California, Andy grew up in Little Saigon, the second largest Vietnamese population after Vietnam. In the 90s, he was a victim of bullying and spent a lot of his freshman and sophomore year skipping school and was eventually kicked out for poor performance. 

Andy maintained a determined spirit and would later go into real estate. Working out of his parent’s garage, he was making really good money, but he wasn’t passionate about it. Inspired by a friend, Andy decided to jump head first into the streetwear business. 

He would go on to create a streetwear brand that was carried by Zumies, Karmaloop and other online retailers along with a blog that helped create a connection with the consumer and curated the interests of Andy and his crew. Kendrick, ASAP Rocky, and many other artists were supporters of the brand that he’d eventually sell in 2015 to start Afters Ice Cream, a restaurant sensation now with 27 locations on the West Coast.\

About Claima Stories with Bimma:

Former Nike Marketer, Bimma Williams interviews leading and emerging BIPOC creatives about how they were able to break into the notoriously guarded creative and sneaker industries. From these stories, listeners will learn how to claim their dream careers. Featuring Melody Ehsani, Jeff Staple, and James Whitner. Listen and Subscribe now.

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