In-kind partnership with TED2025: Humanity Reimagined

April/10/2024

 

 

I never thought a small freeze dryer sitting in my house would one day bring us to the stage of TED.

3sDried started as a fun experiment between me and my younger siblings. We had always wanted to try those trendy freeze-dried candies we saw online, but we wondered, why are they so expensive? So we started doing research and decided to try making them ourselves.

Most of the time, the candy exploded, collapsed, or just tasted weird. But we didn’t give up. In fact, we got even more serious about it

We kept testing, failing, adjusting, and trying again. Our team meetings often turned into mini debate sessions. Everyone had their own opinions, and yes, we argued a lot. But through that, we learned how to make decisions, how to listen, and how to truly work as a team.

After so many fails, we finally got it right. That moment, we knew this wasn’t just a fun experiment anymore. It was the start of our very first real business.

Over the past two years, we’ve learned how to get the stock we need, package our products, build an online shop, manage our budget, and sell our creations to customers at local markets. We gave up holidays while others were traveling or staying home playing video games. We stayed behind, running our booth and building something from scratch.

Then one day, we received an invitation from TED to be an in-kind partner and set up a freeze-dried candy bar for their Celebration Party. At that moment, I knew this wasn’t just another market. It was a stage far beyond what we had imagined.

On the night of the event, I stood at the venue getting everything ready. I looked at the table full of freeze-dried treats and ice cream sandwiches that we had made with our own hands, and all the memories came rushing back. I thought to myself,

We actually made it.

This is more than just candy. It is a journey we built together as siblings, as a team, and the beginning of a dream. It is also a belief in doing one small thing really well.

Thank you to Elaine from TED for trusting us, supporting a youth-led startup, and giving us the opportunity to share our freeze-dried treats with innovators from all over the world. You didn’t just give us a spot on your stage. You gave us trust, the freedom to create, and the chance to shine.

Thank you to the teachers at Southpointe Academy who have supported and encouraged us from the very beginning, offering valuable advice that helped us build this brand step by step and continue improving it.

Thank you to our parents for always having our backs, standing behind every crazy idea we had, and giving us the courage to dream big without fear.

And to everyone who stopped by our booth, listened to our story, or tried our candy, thank you.

Because of you, we believe that even the smallest idea can go a very, very long way.

3sDried Freeze Dried x Chinese New Year Flower & Gift Fair

January/23/2024 - January/29/2024

 

3sDried Freeze Dried x MUJI Metrotown

January/4, 5, 11, 12/2025

We're grateful that MUJI invited us back to join their pop-up event as part of the MUJI Community Market! We hope that you will visit us at MUJI Metrotown!

    

3sDried Freeze Dried x Asian Christmas Market

December/20/2023

 

3sDried Freeze Dried x Richmond Night Market 2024

Thanks for all of you who visited us at the 2024 Summer Richmond Night Market! We hope to see you next year!

 

3sDried Freeze Dried x MUJI Guildford

April/6, 7, 13, 14/2024

We're grateful that MUJI invited us to join their pop-up event as part of the MUJI Community Market! Thanks to everyone who visited us, and we hope to see you again at future events!

 

3sDried Freeze Dried x Chinese New Year Flower & Gift Fair

February/2/2024 - February/12/2024

 

3sDried Freeze Dried x Asian Christmas Market

December/12/2023