Crowdfunding Through Social Business Model: Amber Coffee

Many university students struggle to afford daily meals and basic necessities, yet traditional charity channels rarely reach them quickly. Amber Coffee, a social business operating cafés in UiTM addresses this gap by turning everyday meal purchases into a channel for crowdfunding. The public contributes donation through crowdfunding, and the funds go directly to vulnerable students through a dedicated e-wallet system. Students can then get free meals and drinks at any Amber Coffee branch using their e-wallet. The business model is structured using the Social Enterprise Model Canvas (SEMC) rather than the traditional Business Model Canvas (BMC). Its operational mechanism relies on three Islamic contracts: infaq, wakalah and mu'awadah contracts. The initiative is currently at the testing stage, and the dedicated e-wallet system is being developed and trialled before full implementation across all branches. Once implemented, building crowdfunding into a sustainable campus business is expected to strengthen student welfare, restore donor trust in charity managed by commercial businesses, and show how Islamic social finance can create lasting impact in university communities.