Contextualization:
During my entrepreneurship class, I went through the design thinking process to build a business within less than three months. Design thinking encompasses 5 phases – Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test – which are useful in defining what a problem is and how to fix it. The problem that I tackled is the fact that there are no coffee shops in Atlanta that give customers more than just coffee but also an experience whenever they visit the physical location. This coffee shop would mix art and coffee making sure that each customer can make an experience over their visit rather than fast food. That is why I created Latte Avant-Garde which is a method of creating latte art. This business idea “delivers an enchanting experience for those who desire to partake in the exploration of the arts while sharing picturesque coffee art and desserts.”
The experience of coming up with a business idea through the ideation process of design thinking allowed me to really think about potential customers and their problems rather than on my own problems and solutions. By thinking creatively, I was able to find a problem and then proceed to fix it using data and research. Even though the process was difficult throughout the semester, I enjoyed getting to know potential customers, interviewing them, and really tackling the task of connecting with them.
Looking back, I do wish that I had done more research in terms of financial reporting. While I made the best to report accurate measures and numbers, this was an area that I had trouble finishing. While there are multiple sources that estimate coffee shop costs, I would have wanted to be more detailed and specific with my numbers during the pitch presentation. However, this experience prepared me for really thinking about how business start-ups and what they need to be sustainable. This was an opportunity to think deeply about how I want to start my own business in the future.
Written by Lisset Rojo Ramirez