Newcastle University London Alumni Network summer event - Alumni and Supporters

Join the Newcastle University London Alumni Network for an evening of entrepreneurial discussion with MBA graduate and founder of COMP Coffee, Tiehao Yang.

Tiehao will share how they have successfully transformed their academic experience into entrepreneurial success, building and growing an independent coffee business in London.

You'll gain:

Valuable insights into entrepreneurship, business strategy, leadership, customer engagement, brand development and the realities of launching and growing a business in a competitive market.
The key challenges, lessons learned, pivotal decisions and the practical application of MBA concepts in building a successful business.

We're delighted to be hosting the event at COMP Coffee, so you'll gain a real insight into the business.

The talk will be followed by networking and refreshments.

Meet Tiehao Yang

When the COVID-19 pandemic changed the pace of the world, I saw an opportunity within the uncertainty. Rather than viewing this period as a pause, I chose to invest in myself and take a step back to learn, grow, and prepare for the next stage of my journey. This decision led me to Newcastle University, where I began my MBA journey.

During my MBA studies and my life in the UK, I gained many new inspirations and began to rethink my future direction. Returning to a traditional corporate career would have been a natural choice. However, I started to ask myself what I truly wanted to build and what kind of impact I wanted to create. I returned to my own experiences, strengths, and passions. The answer became clear: coffee.

Choosing coffee was not a coincidence. Before coming to the UK, I had already spent several years working in China’s specialty coffee industry, gaining valuable experience in market development, brand operations, and customer understanding. I also built strong industry connections and gained deep insights into the growth of the coffee market.

After arriving in the UK, I conducted extensive market research and discovered an exciting opportunity. London has one of the world’s most dynamic specialty coffee markets, with consumers who appreciate quality, creativity, and new experiences. However, modern Chinese specialty coffee culture was still relatively unknown in the UK. I saw an opportunity to connect these two worlds.

By combining my industry experience in China with the international perspective gained through studying and living in the UK, I decided to create a coffee brand that could represent cultural exchange, innovation, and connection. This became the foundation of COMP Coffee.

For me, COMP Coffee is more than a coffee shop. It is a platform for cultural exchange, community building, and creative exploration.