Leaving the safety of a nine-to-five job to begin your personal enterprise from scratch is not any small feat.
However whenever you’ve received somebody by your facet cheering you on and believing in your dream simply as a lot as you do, it modifications the whole lot. That’s precisely what these founders skilled.
With their companions in their nook—pushing, encouraging, and typically simply serving to to maintain the coffee coming—they discovered the arrogance to dive into their very own enterprise enterprise.
That confidence gave rise to Kem Kopi, a camping-inspired out of doors coffee haven in Puncak Alam.
Childhood associates, huge desires
For Nik Aizu and Wan Harith, the journey to Kem Kopi started with a friendship rooted in shared experiences. Each had been raised by single moms who instilled in them a robust work ethic and the worth of resilience.
“We grew up like family—brothers, really,” mentioned Nik, the visionary behind Kem Kopi’s model and idea. “We always talked about having our own business, about escaping the nine-to-five life.”
The 2 associates shared desires of monetary freedom and self-reliance, but it surely was their love for the outside that ultimately impressed the idea of Kem Kopi.
After years of dreaming, Kem Kopi was based on August 31, 2022, a day that marked not simply Malaysia’s Independence Day but in addition the duo’s independence from the company world.
Taking the leap
Nik and Harith’s determination to depart their company jobs was removed from straightforward. Nik, beforehand a Enterprise Growth Supervisor in IT, recalled the pressures of his job, particularly as he anticipated the arrival of his child woman.
“I was constantly stressed, with my boss texting me at 3AM,” Nik recalled. “I needed to reclaim my time. My wife, Qaqa, encouraged me, saying she believed in my potential.”
Harith, too, was prepared for change, leaving his place at Malaysia Airways. “I trusted Nik’s vision and his decision-making,” Harith defined.
“Everything in life has its risks, but it’s how you manage those risks that counts. My wife, Afiqah, motivated me to trust in Allah and reminded me that rezeki (sustenance) is everywhere.”
Regardless of the dangers, they pooled their financial savings and went all-in, embracing the concept their expertise and expertise would information them in the event that they wanted a backup plan.
Nik and Harith had been ready to return to the workforce if crucial, however they had been decided to offer Kem Kopi their all first.
Beginning small
Positioned subsequent to a tranquil lake, Kem Kopi’s location displays Nik and Harith’s out of doors pursuits, from climbing to fishing.
They needed Kem Kopi to supply an expertise past simply coffee—a nature-centric retreat the place prospects may unwind and revel in a peaceable ambiance.
“We started with two tables, a 10×10 canopy,” Nik recalled with a smile. “We used our personal camping gear to give the place a rugged, outdoorsy feel. Dream big, start small—that’s been our motto from the start.”
With out exterior funding or loans, Kem Kopi was completely self-funded. They dealt with each element themselves, from landscaping to carpentry.
“We built our tables, chairs, and even our shop counter ourselves mixing cement and wiring by hand,” mentioned Harith. “It was tough, but it made everything feel more personal.”
After all, working an outside cafe got here with its personal set of distinctive challenges. Heavy rain and intense warmth examined their perseverance.
“Once, a storm blew our flysheet away, but our customers stepped in to help,” Nik shared, moved by the neighborhood’s kindness.
The native Puncak Alam neighborhood turned their earliest supporters, drawn to Kem Kopi’s distinctive setup and the founders’ real dedication.
Mixing native flavour with speciality coffee
At Kem Kopi, the menu displays Nik and Harith’s love for creativity. They provide each Arabica beans for third-wave coffee fans and native beans for an inexpensive, accessible choice.
“We wanted to cater to everyone, from students to coffee connoisseurs,” mentioned Nik.
“And with drinks like Kopi Peanut Butter, we let our curiosity lead the way, experimenting with fun flavours that represent our personal tastes.”
The duo has developed over 20 coffee flavours, every impressed by their explorations of Malaysia’s cafe scene.
Their menu is a part of their broader mission to teach prospects about coffee tradition, particularly native beans.
“A lot of people think good coffee has to be imported,” Nik mentioned. “But we’re showing them that local beans have their own richness and flavour.”
Kem Kopi’s meals menu displays its camping-inspired ambiance with easy-to-eat, comforting choices like otak-otak and pepes.
“We wanted a simple menu that resonated with the camping vibe,” Harith defined.
High quality is paramount, and so they supply substances domestically to assist the neighborhood. “Working with local suppliers keeps our ingredients fresh and strengthens our ties to the area,” added Nik.
Embracing development and gratitude
Wanting again, Nik and Harith say they don’t remorse a factor.
Harith mirrored, “Leaving my stable job was tough, but Nik and I have a shared vision, and we’re creating something meaningful.”
For them, Kem Kopi is greater than a enterprise; it’s an embodiment of their private values, their neighborhood spirit, and their need for freedom.
Their recommendation to aspiring entrepreneurs is easy: “Don’t focus on what you can’t control. Take things one step at a time, and always stay grounded.”
The longer term holds thrilling potentialities for Kem Kopi. Nik and Harith plan to develop their model, bringing their camping-inspired coffee expertise to extra places, however for now, they’re content material with the journey they’re on.
“Kem Kopi is a marathon, not a sprint,” they mentioned. “We’re building something lasting, something that reflects who we are and what we value.”
Although they began with simply two tables, their desires for Kem Kopi are as boundless because the evening sky beneath which they usually camp.
You possibly can study extra about Kem Kopi right here.
Learn different articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups right here.
Featured Picture Credit score: Kem Kopi
