Hi, my name is Stephen Huynh, Co-founder of CyberYard. The people in the above photo are my family and close friends who have helped me through difficult times in my life. My best friend, Simon Lopez, and I are planning to start our own business that is based on our shared passion of gaming. We’re hoping to start in Vietnam Town, a small section of San Jose, California. Part of what sparked this fire in us, was my brother Trent.

Trent is the kindest and most welcoming person that I know; however, not many people reciprocate his enthusiasm of meeting new people. What many do not know about Trent is that he is exceptionally good at video games, despite him having autism.

Growing up with Trent, we played a variety of games such as Minecraft, Mario Party, and Street Fighter. Trent has dedicated many hours to learning and honing his skills when it comes to video games. Video games has always been mine and Trent’s way of communicating. It is one of the few ways that he can properly express himself. Trent has difficulty expressing himself verbally, but video games provide him with a different form of expression.

Now I won’t lie and tell you that my brother and I are close today. Over the years growing up, I started to distance myself from him thinking that I had to prioritize things like school and work over being around my family. However, I now realize the mistake that I made and the many memories that I missed out on with my brother. To make up for this, I want to create a safe space for my brother and I to enjoy together. I want to create a place where Trent can openly express himself and be the loving and kind person that I know.

Not only do I want to rekindle the relationship that I have with my brother, but I also want to help grow a community that I grew up in. This is why my business partner and I have decided to start our business in Vietnam Town of San Jose, California. Vietnam Town is an area that both Simon and I grew up in. I have fond memories of exploring the various shops with my brother and being able to get into all kinds of mischief together. Vietnam Town was one of the few places that I got to see people reciprocate the affection that Trent is so full of.

Our plan to open the Cyber Cafe will take a considerable amount of funds, as we need to purchase a variety of equipment and assistance. The Cafe will consist of 15 PC setups (Personal Computers), a console gaming lounge, and Milk Tea bar with snacks. Each PC will be around $900, and the attachments such as the keyboard, mouse, headphones, and monitors will be around $409. The property itself needs to be designed and constructed since there is no pre-existing furnishing, fixtures, etc. The rent for the property is $19,000 a year, and the construction will cost $10,000.

Our goal of $75,000 will be strictly used for the PC setups, rent, fixtures, and construction. The remaining inventory, such as the milk tea ingredients and decorum, will be out of our pocket so additional donations would be greatly appreciated!

This will be a 1 year project with many tasks to complete, but with your support and our dedication, we will create a healthy community for Trent and other gamers.

We will update our progress regularly. Feel free to contact us about offering help, suggestions, and questions through our email. Thank you!