When Gia Huynh thinks back to her great-grandmother's kitchen in Vietnam, she remembers the special crystal candies they'd make together for Lunar New Year celebrations. Today, those precious childhood memories have blossomed into Silky Gem, an online candy company that brought in an incredible $9 million in 2024.

Huynh's journey to entrepreneurial success is a testament to the power of determination and staying connected to one's roots. After immigrating to the United States from Vietnam in 2016, she faced significant challenges that would have discouraged many. Working 14-hour days at nail salons seven days a week, she was committed to building a life for herself and her young son, even during the most difficult times.

The turning point came in late 2021 when Huynh was scrolling through social media and spotted videos of crystal candy—the same kohakutou treats she remembered making with her great-grandmother. That moment of recognition sparked an idea that would change everything. After confirming the family recipe with her mother, Huynh invested $500 in ingredients and began experimenting in her own kitchen.

What followed was months of dedication that exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit. While working full-time at her sister's nail salon during the day and caring for her son in the evening, Huynh would stay up until three or four in the morning perfecting her candy creations, only to wake up at 6 a.m. to start the cycle again.

Her hard work paid off beautifully. By early 2022, she launched Silky Gem on Etsy, and within the first three months was earning enough to cover her son's essentials—a milestone that brought her immense joy. Then in March 2022, an influencer's viral post about her candies generated $3,000 in a single day, and sales took off from there. In just nine months, the business had generated over $1.8 million in revenue.

What makes Huynh's story even more heartwarming is how success has allowed her to give back to her family. She's now been able to hire both of her parents, bringing the candy-making tradition full circle across generations and continents. The same family recipes that once brought joy during special occasions in Vietnam are now delighting customers across America and beyond.

Silky Gem's handmade crystal-like confections—known as 'kohakutou' in Japan or 'mứt rau câu' in Vietnam—have captured the hearts and taste buds of candy lovers everywhere. Each piece is carefully crafted, carrying forward a cultural tradition while creating something entirely new.

Huynh's journey from working long hours at nail salons to running a multi-million dollar business demonstrates that with persistence, creativity, and connection to one's heritage, extraordinary transformations are possible. She's proof that our most challenging moments can become the foundation for our greatest achievements, and that sometimes the sweetest success comes from honoring where we come from while building something beautiful for the future.