Founder Andanu Prasetyo says he remains comfortable with keeping Tuku bootstrapped for now as he prefers to maintain control over his coffee-to-go start-up.
uku is one of a rising number of independent coffee-to-go outlets taking on the once dominant global chains in a diversifying local coffee scene.
Emerging as a standout in the country’s crowded mid-segment coffee market, Tuku made its mark with its signature milk coffee with palm sugar, a type of product now offered by various brands that has become the nation’s bestselling ready-to-drink beverage.
While many competitors have pursued aggressive growth strategies to gain market share, the Jakarta-based coffee chain opted for incremental expansion based on founder Andanu Prasetyo’s vision of fostering a “neighborhood coffee” culture inspired by markets as diverse as Yogyakarta and Melbourne, Australia.
“No big dreams or anything. I just really want the local coffee scene to grow into the essence of a neighborhood coffee shop,” Andanu told The Jakarta Post on Dec. 5.
Tuku was founded in 2015 with Rp 500 million (US$32,000) in combined personal funding and loans. Profits from his first café, Toodz House in South Jakarta, were reinvested to start Tuku’s chain by opening a second outlet just across the street.
Keeping control
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