How Our Cafe Was Founded by Sixty Coffee Dreamers

Ever wondered how a group of strangers turns a shared dream—like opening a neighborhood coffee shop—into reality? For four university students in China, that dream started online, with a simple belief: everyone carries an idea of their perfect café in their mind. They weren’t just after a business; they wanted a space where anyone, whether happy or heartbroken, could find a moment of comfort. And they did it with 60+ people who believed the same.

In short: Four students launched "Our Cafe" by recruiting 60+ online shareholders, each limited to a ¥10,000 (around $1,400) investment, to collectively fund and build their dream coffee shop from scratch.

The Birth of a Collective Café Dream

"Our Cafe" began as the brainchild of four university students—including "Goat" and "Yueyue"—who met online while dreaming of opening their own coffee shop. When asked why they wanted to start a café, both pointed to a universal longing: a personal haven that offers solace whether you’re celebrating or struggling. They envisioned a space where every visitor could feel that same sense of belonging. Two third-year students, they spent months rallying over 60 like-minded netizens to invest, turning that collective vision into bricks-and-mortar reality.

Overcoming Skepticism and Logistical Hurdles

Spreading the word online triggered an unexpected flood: Yueyue recalled receiving up to 400 calls in a single day, forcing her to keep her phone permanently plugged in. With 60 shareholders, organizing meetings became a challenge. Their first general assembly required negotiation to secure a hotel meeting room at half-price. Later gatherings faced another hurdle: finding a free venue. One shareholder offered their unused home, which soon hosted weekly meetings for 60 people. The constant foot traffic worried Yueyue—they feared neighbors might mistake them for a scam and call the police.

Keeping Investment Fair and Risks Manageable

To protect individual investors and encourage equal input, the founders set a strict ¥10,000 investment cap per person. This ensured no single backer could dominate decisions, kept potential losses manageable if the project failed, and promoted a democratic approach: most votes were cast by a show of hands. They also turned down larger investment offers to preserve this balance.

Building the Cafe Together, From Scratch

The most successful part of "Our Cafe," according to Goat, was the hands-on involvement of shareholders with relevant skills. Nearly everyone contributed to the café’s creation—from selecting furniture to drafting design plans. Yueyue led a 50-person scouting team that combed through Nanchang’s neighborhoods to find the best-value location. Their collaborative effort turned a shared dream into a functioning space. Currently, the founders are refining the café and considering expansion. If this location can’t hold all their dreams, they may open another to fit them all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shareholders contributed to founding Our Cafe?

A total of 60+ shareholders pooled their resources to help found Our Cafe. Each contributed an investment, with a strict upper limit set by the founders.

What was the maximum individual investment allowed in Our Cafe?

Each shareholder could invest no more than ¥10,000 (approximately $1,400). This cap was designed to limit financial risk and ensure no single investor had disproportionate control over decision-making.

How did the founders handle shareholder meetings for Our Cafe?

The founders initially rented a hotel meeting room at a discounted rate for their first general assembly. Later, they used a shareholder’s unused home as a free meeting space, hosting around 60 people for regular discussions. They worried about being mistaken for a scam due to the frequent gatherings.

Why did the founders of Our Cafe set an investment limit?

The ¥10,000 cap was intended to reduce individual financial risk if the project failed, prevent any single shareholder from dominating decisions, and encourage democratic voting through show of hands. They also declined larger investments to maintain equality.

How did the shareholders of Our Cafe contribute to the café’s setup?

Shareholders with relevant skills helped design the café, choose furniture, and select the location. A team of 50 people searched Nanchang neighborhoods to find the best site, and volunteers offered their homes for meetings. Nearly all contributors were directly involved in building the café.