Edward Tirtanata
Edward Tirtanata is best known for establishing Kopi Kenangan, the popular grab-and-go coffee chain. Prior to that, however, the finance and accounting graduate from Northeastern University, USA, had established Lewis & Carroll, a premium establishment serving artisanal tea. Unfortunately, the brand struggled to grow among Indonesia's budget-conscious youths, who preferred the cheaper bubble tea. Learning from the experience, he decided to eschew the Starbucks-style “third home” retail concept and opted for grab-and-go stalls that are cheaper to establish, but without abandoning the quality of the coffee served. The concept proved to be a hit, and Tirtanata's new venture became a nationwide sensation.
Aside from his role as CEO of Kopi Kenangan, Tirtanata is getting more deeply involved in the F&B startup ecosystem. In February 2020, he joined Gojek and startup ecosystem builder Digitaraya in establishing Digitarasa, a new accelerator program for F&B businesses.
RELATED INSIGHTS
Kopi Kenangan serves up an addictive blend of rapid expansion and profitability
Its recent $109m Series B infusion boosts the Indonesian startup's confidence for sustainability and regional expansion despite the current Covid-19 slowdown
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