Maxime Chaury is Managing Director of Flash Coffee Indonesia. Before Flash, he was Managing Director of ZEN Rooms Malaysia.

👋🏼  How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

I'm building a tech-enabled coffee chain in Indonesia that democratizes high-quality specialty coffee.

I work closely with a team of 350+ rockstars across 80+ stores to build the coolest F&B brand and grow our footprint in a flash.

Our team has three main functions: expansion, operations and enabling and support. All of this is to ensure we deliver the very best coffee for Flash fans!

🧐  What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I occasionally work as a barista and even wear the hat of a delivery driver at times! I think it is essential to step in the shoes of your team and partners to understand and experience their challenges on the ground.

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I've also worked in eight countries and learned to speak four languages — five if you add Indonesian, which I'm learning now!

🏆  What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

I learned a lot while working in strategy consulting with Roland Berger and PwC Strategy& in Morocco. Still, my biggest love story has been launching and growing ventures within the Rocket Internet ecosystem: with Jumia Food in Algeria, with Zen Rooms in Malaysia and now with Flash Coffee in Indonesia!

I love the entrepreneurial adventure, the challenges, building great teams & sustainable businesses that change the world!

I am particularly proud of my team in Jakarta. They are smart, kind, hardworking and creative! With them, we have opened 65 stores in the last six months and multiplied our revenue by 25. It is a huge honor to be in this unique position to positively impact the life of Jakartans by adding more fun, fulfillment and excitement to their lives!

🔍  What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?

The rate of innovation in the startup space spurred by the pandemic is fascinating. Never before have we ever seen such rapid technological adoption and business transformation.

At Flash Coffee, we are trying to integrate those technologies to provide a better and wider experience for our customers and optimize our operations.

This means we are analyzing how we could integrate cryptocurrency payments, the type of presence we want to build in the metaverse and other exciting projects!

💼  What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

I think the qualities you need to be a successful entrepreneur don't depend much on the industry.

You need to have a real ambition to change things for the better, fight for it with determination and courage without ever giving up, and be open-minded enough to pivot or adapt your strategy.

Flexibility and adaptability are key because nobody can know 100% what the future is. You need humility to be fully aware of this and constantly question yourself.

Nobody knows a task better than the person doing it, so you should always listen to others. Ask as many questions as you can and listen.

Be empathetic. Try to always put yourself in the shoes of investors, employees, competitors, or clients: that is the only way to make the right decision.

Then, you can be creative and differentiate yourself by charting a unique course of action. But that part comes second.

Flash Coffee's motto resonates best with me - dare to be different. Never forget you are here to change the world, so drink a good cup of coffee and make it happen!

🗣  What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

I am passionate about F&B tech. On the one hand, eating/drinking is the most regular (and among the most pleasurable) activities we engage in. On the other hand, smartphone applications are becoming our favorite medium of interaction with the world and our fellow humans.

It is a huge responsibility to take part in shaping what we consume daily and how we consume it. For a better world and happier lives!

🎥  What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Laskar Pelangi (The Rainbow Troops)! It really resonates with me and what we are trying to do at Flash Coffee: be soldiers of hope and positivity, energizing and empowering all Indonesians to achieve their dreams!

🍨  What's your go-to ice cream flavor?

Coffee, of course! Strong and energizing!