Back 01.12.2025 All news, Careers

From the classrooms of BHMS to launching a high-tech marketplace in the Caribbean

Niv’s journey is anything but typical.
After graduating in Global Business in 2023, he didn’t follow the expected path. Instead, he spotted an opportunity in a fast-growing region and turned it into a digital platform that is reshaping how people connect, buy, and do business.

Read the full interview

1. Can you tell us about your journey from the Caribbean to BHMS, and what path you took after graduation?

I’ve always been someone who wanted to learn by doing. Sitting only in a classroom was never enough for me. While researching hospitality schools that truly connect theory with practice, I spoke with a close friend who was already studying in Switzerland. Hearing about his experience firsthand, together with my own research, led me to Lucerne and BHMS. Switzerland immediately stood out to me, not only because of its reputation in hospitality, but also because of its discipline, structure, and global mindset.

After graduating, it became very clear to me that I didn’t want to follow a traditional corporate path. I wanted to build something of my own, something I could develop in the Caribbean, where I saw both opportunity and real market gaps. That mindset is what eventually led me toward entrepreneurship and starting my own ventures.

2. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur, and what motivated you to launch a second-hand platform in the Caribbean?

The inspiration came from being very hands on in different industries and noticing patterns and opportunities across markets. In the Caribbean, in particular, I saw strong demand across multiple sectors and a real opportunity to build a more connected marketplace experience.

That perspective motivated me to launch a caribbX a second hand platform starting in the Caribbean, designed around accessibility, trust, and real user needs, with the flexibility to evolve beyond a single region.

3. How did your education and experience at BHMS help you build, launch, and manage your own business?

BHMS gave me much more than hospitality knowledge. It taught me structure, discipline, customer mindset, and how to operate under pressure. Hospitality trains you to think in systems, manage people, solve problems quickly, and always focus on the end user.

Those skills translated directly into entrepreneurship. Whether it’s managing operations, negotiating deals, building processes, or understanding client expectations, the BHMS experience gave me a very strong operational foundation that I still rely on every day.
Along the way, I also built connections and friendships that continue to be part of my professional and personal life today.

4. What challenges have you faced as a young entrepreneur, and what advice would you give to current BHMS students who dream of starting their own venture?

One of the biggest challenges is learning everything on the go. There’s no manual for entrepreneurship. You make decisions with incomplete information, you adapt, you learn, and you keep going. Another challenge is patience, building something real takes time, especially when you’re creating something new in a market that isn’t used to it yet.

My advice to BHMS students is simple: don’t wait for the “perfect moment.” Start small, stay curious, and use your hospitality mindset as a strength. You already know how to deal with people, pressure, and responsibility, which is a huge advantage.

And honestly, if one of you has a good idea and wants to explore it further, you can always reach out to me. Best case, we build something great together. And at the very least, we grab a coffee ? - Niv Itzhak < niv@caribbx.com >