65 | Timen Swijtink, Lacàph and Building a Coffee Brand in Vietnam

Timen is the founder at Lacàph, a fast-growing Vietnamese coffee brand, that is starting to export into new markets in Asia Pacific and around the world. Besides this he is a board member in companies in residential real estate development and software SaaS solutions. He has been in Vietnam since 2007, but is a proud Dutch person that happens to have lived in the USA and Vietnam longer than any period of time in Holland.   In this conversation, we cover the coffee scene in Vietnam, building a brand, and his story and journey of Lacaph. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Timen Swijtink.   For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep65    ------   Show Notes: [00:00:31] - [First question] - Timen’s Background and Lacàph  [00:06:47] - Developing the story and branding for Lacàph [00:10:20] - The process and thoughts behind a packaging redesign [00:13:39] - How to get products listed in retail [00:18:10] - As a nimble startup, how do you choose what ideas to focus on? [00:22:12] - How to collaborate and learn from others as an entrepreneur [00:24:24] - The coffee culture in Vietnam and how it’s changed [00:27:26] - Robusta vs Arabica Beans and where Vietnam fits in [00:32:53] - Lacàph’s relationship with farms and Vietnamese Coffee farmers [00:39:03] - How to be a good storyteller without sounding corny [00:44:43] - High quality coffee in Vietnam [00:46:58] - How much coffee does Timen drink? [00:50:19] - The decaf coffee process [00:52:05] - Timen’s big influences [00:57:57] - Wrapping up   ------   Connect with Timen: Lacàph: https://www.lacaph.com/  Timen’s blog: https://www.robustarevolution.com/ Follow Timen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timenswijtink/  Connect with Timen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timenswijtink/  Email Timen: timen [ @ ] lacaph.com   ------   Mentioned/Recommended Content: Timen’s Interview on Nonnative Creative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqQD8O-I9lE  Sonny's Best Ever Coffee (US only): https://bestevercoffee.lacaph.com/    ------   Stay up to date with the podcast by signing up for the Compounding Curiosity Substack, where I’ll email you when the latest episode comes out along with my summary and takeaways, links to mentioned content, graphics and the transcript. Sign up at https://compoundingcuriosity.substack.com/    ------   Stay Connected with Compounding Curiosity: Visit the Compounding Curiosity PODCAST: https://CompoundingPodcast.com/  Sign up for the Compounding Curiosity SUBSTACK: https://compoundingcuriosity.substack.com/  Follow Compounding Curiosity on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CompndCuriosity/  Follow Kalani Scarrott on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ScarrottKalani/  Sign up for the Allocators Asia SUBSTACK: https://AllocatorsAsia.substack.com/   Join the DISCORD: https://discord.gg/NPVNPVsCYb  Have some thoughts on the podcast? Leave FEEDBACK: https://forms.gle/Du61UxeJ25BkydH49