Braaap founder to expand business to the US

Young entrepreneur Brad Smith is set to expand his business into the US, hot on the heels of being shortlisted for an international award.

Smith, who is 23-years-old, has been named as one of three finalists in the JCI International Creative Young Entrepreneur Award. He is the first Australian to reach the shortlist.

Smith started Braaap, a mini motorcross business, when he was just 16-years-old. He will travel to Osaka, Japan in November for the awards.

The nomination comes as Smith gears up to launch his business in the US, he revealed to StartupSmart.

Currently, Braaap has four outlets, including one franchised operation, and Smith says he will soon roll the business out across the US, headed by an unnamed but “well-known” Australian figure.

“The challenge for me was always to grow the company aggressively, especially when I was 16,” Smith says. “We’ve signed the deal to go to the US. A well-known Australian figure, a Tasmanian in fact, will head it.”

He said of the nomination: “You have to show community work for the award and I’ve always had the passion to get people into motorcross.”

Smith added: “There are a lot of experts that are good with ideas but are not prepared to roll their sleeves up. So you need to get self-educated, bite off more than you can chew and keep chewing.”