Skip to content 
What started as a dream and a sweet tooth has grown into a thriving business, as Change Foundation graduate and young entrepreneur turns her passion into reality.
At just 23 years old, Jennifer Lopez has launched JT Scoops, a fast-growing dessert business inspired by Filipino flavours and modern creativity. What began with homemade ice cream has now grown into a fully operating micro bakery, an achievement Jennifer once only imagined.
“I always wanted to start my own business,” Jennifer said. “But growing up, I didn’t know which direction to take. I just knew I wanted to do something different.”
A Business Built on Culture and Creativity
The idea behind JT Scoops was rooted in both personal experience and cultural pride.
Jennifer, who has always had a love for desserts, noticed that Filipino cuisine didn’t always receive the recognition it deserved. She wanted to change that, while also creating treats that people with allergies could enjoy.
“I’m gluten-free and nut-free myself,” she explained. “So I wanted to create desserts that everyone could enjoy—without feeling left out.”
Starting with ice cream, Jennifer and her partner Tofunmi began experimenting with Filipino-inspired flavours, combining tradition with modern dessert trends. Their creativity quickly caught attention at events and collaborations throughout 2024.
By late 2025, they took their biggest step yet, opening their first physical location, a micro bakery inside W3 Food Court in Acton.
Turning Opportunity into Action
Through The Change Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Fund, Jennifer pitched her vision to expand the business and move into retail.
“It was nerve-wracking,” she said. “It was my first time pitching, but the judges were really supportive. That made a big difference.”
With the funding, Jennifer invested in branding, packaging, and equipment, tools that helped bring her vision to life and build a professional identity for the business.
“The fund gave us the push we needed at the start,” she said. “Without it, we wouldn’t have gained the experience or opportunities we have today.”
A Future Full of Possibility
Opening the micro bakery was a major milestone, but it also brought new challenges. Jennifer describes the first month as a period of learning, reflection, and persistence.
“There were good days and bad days,” she said. “But it taught me not to give up. It really tests you as a person.”
Looking ahead, Jennifer has ambitious plans. Her dream is to grow JT Scoops into an international brand, opening shops in new locations around the world.
“We started at home,” she said. “Now we have a micro bakery. One day, we want to open stores globally.”
Celebrating the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Jennifer’s story reflects the purpose behind The Change Foundation’s entrepreneurship work, helping young people turn ideas into action and ambition into opportunity.
Through investment, mentoring, and belief, the organisation continues to support young people to shape their own futures.
And for Jennifer, the journey is only just beginning.
What started as a simple idea has become something far bigger, a business built on resilience, creativity, and culture, serving not just desserts, but inspiration to others who dare to dream.
