Interview and review by Adrian Vallesteros
In the heart of Macau, ColleXtives Café stands out not just for its unique atmosphere but also for the inspiring story of its founders, Maria Isabela Brosas Faustino and Kara Kathrina Gasque Cenon. Both co-founders told the Post their story in a recent interview at their café, which blends specialty coffee and dishes with community engagement, born from a vision of collaboration rather than competition.
A vision born from collaboration & embracing Filipino culture
Faustino emphasised the significance of their name: “The X in ColleXtives, situated on Avenida de Sidónio Pais (士多鳥拜斯大馬路), symbolises collaboration.” Initially, the duo operated with their own separate brands, each offering unique products. However, they realised their combined strengths could create a space that celebrates both their Macau and Filipino roots while fostering a sense of community.
Faustino elaborated on their mission to redefine the business landscape, saying: “We came together to collaborate and wanted to show that it’s also possible for others. When you start a business together, people often think it’s very competitive and that there’s not much support. But we wanted to change that.” This collaborative spirit is central to their journey, encouraging others to embrace teamwork.
A significant aspect of ColleXtives Café is its celebration of Filipino culture. “We found out that that was our specialty,” Cenon noted, highlighting the importance they feel for this subject. Both entrepreneurs, who were both born in Macau, focus on incorporating Filipino flavours into their offerings. Their menu includes items that blend Filipino ingredients with their lattes and vegan adaptations of traditional dishes. “We want to make it seem like it’s not impossible to actually go plant-based if you really want to,” said Cenon.
Building community through creativity
ColleXtives Café is more than just a place to grab a coffee, it’s a community hub. Faustino and Cenon are dedicated to fostering creativity and collaboration among local artists and small businesses. They spoke about their passion for helping those who are just starting out. “I mean if you come from it, you understand the struggles,” Cenon emphasised, reflecting on their own entrepreneurial challenges. Their experiences motivate them to create opportunities for those who may feel intimidated by the business landscape.
The café regularly hosts collaborative events, providing a platform for emerging talents, with Faustino adding: “Even though our space is small, we do as much as we can to support small businesses”.
The challenges of entrepreneurs
Of course, an entrepreneur’s journey isn’t without hardships. With just the two of them running the business, both Cenon and Faustino have faced a multitude of challenges, with one being the fact that they handle everything themselves. Faustino stated: “Staffing-wise, we just manage everything. So, it’s really hard to have an extra hand.” They both said that to people, on the surface, their work simply appears to consist of just making drinks and cooking food. However, Cenon pointed out that the reality is they “probably do more like 10 jobs each.” She further explained: “It’s a lot more than we realised until we got into it”, with things ranging from paper work, finances, government regulations, and menu development.
Another struggle that they face is from the events and collaborations that they organise. According to Cenon, “people don’t realise how much time and effort goes into not only the events alone, but also the daily work.” They stressed that due to the nature of their collaborative and community-based business, it is necessary to adjust to the availability of the artists that they work with or for the people they provide services for. At times, the duo work long, tiring hours – once it reached 21 hours in a single day.
Staying positive amidst struggles
Despite these hurdles, Cenon and Faustino maintain a positive outlook throughout their entrepreneurial journey. They emphasised the necessity of staying optimistic, as challenges are a constant part of running a business. “We just deal with it day by day,” Cenon said, noting how her initial tendency to plan everything meticulously shifted once they started the café. Faustino underscores the importance of accepting situations rather than getting stressed over them, adopting a proactive approach: “We try to convert our energy to what we can do to solve the problem,” adding: “and it’s always good problems, right?”
Their resilience is evident in how they tackle these challenges. “You have to be mentally and emotionally prepared,” Faustino advised, underscoring the importance of perseverance. For both of them, maintaining a positive mindset is essential in navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship, allowing them to push forward despite the difficulties they encounter.
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
As multicultural entrepreneurs, both founders offer valuable advice to younger, aspiring entrepreneurs eager to follow in their footsteps. “Just go for it,” Faustino encourages. “If it feels right for you and you know you want to do it, just go for it.” This straightforward approach resonates with their own journey, emphasising the importance of taking that first step. Cenon echoed this sentiment, reinforcing the reality of entrepreneurship: “No matter how much financial help you have, no matter how much guidance you have from older people who own businesses already, you’re going to face problems that only you will have.”
Moreover, Cenon stressed the importance of commitment: “You have to be not only 100 percent, but 110 percent sure.” This high level of dedication is crucial, especially in the early stages of a business, where perseverance can make all the difference, according to the young entrepreneurs.
They encourage budding entrepreneurs to embrace their creativity and not fear failure. “Just be prepared. Expect the unexpected,” Cenon advised, highlighting that the entrepreneurial journey is unpredictable. Their experiences show that while challenges are inevitable, maintaining a positive attitude and a proactive mindset can help navigate those difficulties effectively.
The café is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Contacts: @collextives.mo and @collextives.cafe
This photo recently provided by ColleXtives shows co-founders Kara Kathrina Gasque Cenon (left) and Maria Isabela Brosas Faustino.
– Photos recently provided by ColleXtives
