Lei Jun’s New Startup Café in Chengdu: 3,000 Sqm & 5 Locations

When entrepreneurs need to connect with investors, brainstorm ideas, or find co-founders, few places blend caffeine with collaboration quite like startup cafés. But most are just cafés with ambition—or worse, vague networking zones. In Chengdu, one new space is designed from the ground up to do more than serve coffee.

The new startup café in Chengdu spans roughly 3,000 square meters and is backed by an initial investment of 20 million yuan. Lei Jun and Li Ruxiong plan to expand to 4–5 locations in the area within six months.

What Is This New Café?

This isn’t your average coffee shop. Located on Hongqi Avenue in Pixian County’s Deyuan Town, the 3,000-square-meter space serves as both a café and innovation hub. The ground floor features minimalist decor—light wood tables, grey sofas, and green cushions—with a giant “coffee cup” sculpture displaying a bold “” (innovation) character. The upper floors house multiple private offices dedicated to startup incubation.

Why Chengdu, and Why Now?

Chengdu’s tech ecosystem mirrors that of Wuhan—particularly strong in TMT (technology, media, and telecom), mobile internet, and talent retention. Local government support has also been a major draw. “The leadership here is efficient and responsive,” said Li Ruxiong. “Where others hesitated, we moved quickly.”

The area is already home to innovation platforms like the “Cuckoo Bird Pioneer Commune,” and the café is strategically placed nearby. Chengdu’s appeal lies in its deep pool of tech talent and rapid growth in mobile internet industries—traits it shares with Wuhan, where the original “Optics Valley Startup Café” gained fame.

More Than Just Coffee

This café is designed to facilitate connections between startups and investors. Beyond serving drinks, it will host events such as startup training, angel investing meetups, and innovation incubation programs. The goal is to foster collaboration and accelerate business development, using the café as a physical anchor for a broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Chengdu location is intended to be an upgrade over the Optics Valley model. Lei Jun and Li Ruxiong plan to create an entire startup district around the café and may even organize project competitions and cross-city networking events with their Wuhan location.

What’s the Rollout Plan?

Construction began before the Lunar New Year, and the café is set to begin trial operations soon. The initial 20 million yuan investment covers the flagship location, with plans to open 4–5 additional branches in Chengdu within six months. The team will also develop a dedicated innovation street in the area to support the growing startup community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is backing the new Chengdu startup café?

The café is funded by Lei Jun, co-founder of Xiaomi, and Li Ruxiong. Their initial investment totals 20 million yuan, aimed at creating a space that supports entrepreneurship beyond just serving coffee.

How big is the Chengdu startup café?

The first location covers approximately 3,000 square meters, with plans to expand to 4–5 branches across Chengdu within a six-month timeframe.

What makes this café different from regular coffee shops?

This venue combines a café with a startup incubator. It includes private office spaces, event areas, and is designed specifically for fostering connections between entrepreneurs and investors.

Where is the café located?

The café is situated on Hongqi Avenue in Deyuan Town, Pixian County, Chengdu. It is near the local “Cuckoo Bird Pioneer Commune” innovation platform.

Will there be more locations?

Yes, the team plans to open 4–5 locations in Chengdu within six months, using the first café as the foundation for a larger entrepreneurial hub.

What kinds of activities will take place there?

The café will host startup training, angel investment events, innovation incubation programs, and potentially competitions or networking events with other locations like Wuhan.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Startup Energy

For long hours at the new Chengdu startup café, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright citrus and floral notes to spark creativity, or Yirgacheffe for juicy berry tones and a lively acidity that keeps minds sharp. Both single origins offer clean, complex cups ideal for fueling innovation sessions. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.