How China’s Garage Coffee Founder Guided Student Entrepreneurs

When 300 college students packed into a lecture hall in Guizhou, they weren’t there for a lecture on economics—they wanted answers. How do you turn classroom knowledge into real-world success? How do you find your first opportunity when everyone says the odds are stacked against young founders? These were the pressing questions on their minds as they listened to someone who had once been in their shoes: Su Di, the man who turned a simple coffee shop into a launchpad for hundreds of startups.

The short answer? Money isn’t the starting point. Su Di told students that while connections, experience, and vision matter, the most critical foundation is developing the right values and sharpening your own abilities—something more vital than any paycheck or investor pitch.

From Investment Director to Coffee Shop Founder

Su Di’s journey wasn’t a straight line to success. He walked away from a high-paying job as an investment director to open a coffee shop—but not just any coffee shop. Frustrated with traditional models, he reimagined the space entirely. “” (Garage Coffee) became something far more than a caffeine stop: it was designed from the ground up to be a shared workspace for entrepreneurs, a place to meet, exchange ideas, and find potential investors. It wasn’t about selling coffee—it was about enabling startups.

Why Values Matter More Than Funding

Talking to the students, Su Di emphasized a counterintuitive idea: when you’re just starting out, don’t make money your primary focus. “Money should be secondary,” he explained. He urged students to prioritize cultivating the right mindset, expanding their perspective, and building real skills. These intangible assets, he argued, would pay greater dividends over time than any early financial gain. Experience, resilience, and clarity of purpose, he said, are what separate those who grow from those who give up.

Real-World Experience and Internship Opportunities

Practical advice also came with a tangible offer: hands-on experience. Su Di encouraged students to seek internships and get outside the classroom. “If you have the chance to intern, take it,” he said. In fact, Garage Coffee is actively looking to recruit first- and second-year students from universities in Guiyang for winter internships. It’s a chance to step into a real startup environment, learn by doing, and contribute to a community of builders and thinkers.

Facing Failure: A Stepping Stone, Not a Stumbling Block

One student’s question cut to the heart of the fear many young entrepreneurs feel: What if you fail? Su Di’s response was clear and encouraging. “Young people have less to lose financially if a venture fails,” he said, “but what you gain in experience and maturity is invaluable.” Failure, in his view, isn’t something to dread—it’s a crucial part of the journey. The lessons learned, the networks built, and the resilience developed through setbacks often fuel later success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Su Di, the founder of Garage Coffee?

Su Di is the entrepreneur behind Garage Coffee, a Beijing-based startup hub disguised as a coffee shop. Originally an investment director, he left his high-paying corporate job to create a physical space where entrepreneurs could meet, work, share ideas, and connect with investors—a model that became influential among China’s early startup ecosystem.

What is Garage Coffee and how is it different from a regular coffee shop?

Garage Coffee isn’t a traditional café. It’s a collaborative workspace designed specifically for startups and entrepreneurs. Instead of focusing solely on serving coffee, it serves as a hub for networking, idea exchange, and finding funding—functioning more like a co-working and innovation space with a coffee offering.

What advice did Su Di give to students about starting a business?

Su Di told students to focus on cultivating the right values, improving their own abilities, and gaining real-world experience over chasing money early on. He emphasized that personal growth, vision, and resilience are more important than immediate financial returns when starting out.

Does Garage Coffee offer internships for university students?

Yes. Su Di mentioned that Garage Coffee is interested in recruiting first- and second-year university students from Guiyang for winter internships. It’s an opportunity for students to gain practical experience in a startup environment and contribute to an entrepreneurial community.

How did Su Di define the role of failure in entrepreneurship?

Su Di said that young entrepreneurs shouldn’t fear failure because the financial loss is usually small, but the experience and knowledge gained are significant. He views failure as a valuable part of learning and growth, not as a reason to avoid trying.