By Eric D. Lehman
UB’s very own Purple Knight Coffee Company (PKCC) is preparing to launch its first batch of coffee for sale this fall. PKCC is an experiential learning program located in the Ernest C. Trefz School of Business that is designed to help UB students by providing an on-campus internship while creating a real business that puts delicious coffee into the mugs of students, alums, and the public.
“I am very excited about Purple Knight Coffee’s launch this fall,” says Tim Raynor, Director of the School of Business. “It provides our students with an opportunity to learn valuable entrepreneurial skills while helping coffee farmers in Latin America. Purple Knight Coffee is 100% student built and run; this is amazing considering the complexity of operating a business that collaborates with partners and suppliers in multiple countries.”
The CEO of this new company is Shivakantha Naganaik, a double major in UB’s master’s in Finance and Business Analytics programs. Originally from Bangalore, India, Naganaik was in touch with other students at UB and they recommended he apply. He reached out to some of the faculty and decided this would be the right place for him to start towards a career in business. “UB is like a family,” he says. “If you go to a public school that feeling can be lost, but here you get a real family feeling.”
Naganaik worked as a manager for four years in India, but when he wanted to learn how business works in the United States, he found that getting a job or internship was not easy for international students. “There must be a platform where we as students can get the skills we need for a global economy,” he says. “That’s why Purple Knights Coffee is a great initiative. It’s a win-win situation for the college and the students, as well as the small farmers.”
Coffee producers are suffering financially from historically low prices in the conventional markets, and as a result, small-scale farmers have been forced to produce more than ever to sustain their families. The PKCC beans are 100% organic from Guatemala, which is known for its varietal complexity. It is also one of the leading coffee-producing countries in the world, with 125,000 families employed in this important industry.
Learn more about University of Bridgeport’s Ernest C. Trefz School of Business!
The pilot project will involve a single-flavor batch medium roasted by Sun Coffee Roasters in Plainville, Connecticut. Sun Coffee is a sustainable, fair-trade company that supplies “ethically and ecologically conscious coffee” with eco-friendly packaging. The first batch will produce about 500 packages of 12 ounces each. The final products of whole bean and ground coffees will be sold through eCommerce and wholesale markets.
“Once we test the market, we will expand with new farmers and at least three customer-specific flavors in 2024,” says Naganaik. “For that round we plan to produce about 3000-5000 lbs. of coffee to sell, with a focus on increasing our profit margins so we can pay the students for these internships.”
While the Purple Knights Coffee Company plans to eventually pay for internships, the Trefz School of Business aims to offer class credits for internships, Business Law, Multinational Accounting, and International Entrepreneurship, integrating experience with coursework for UB business majors. Shreya Shresthra, a graduate student in the School of Business, has already taken advantage of the opportunity, joining the company as creative director to help prepare the first round of production. The work allowed her to gain academic knowledge in a realistic business environment, as well as the chance to develop essential skills applicable in her future career. “I knew that being a part of a student-run company would provide a variety of learning opportunities,” she says. “This experience has led to a deeper understanding of customer behavior, market trends, and the importance of brand positioning.”
“UB is building a reputation as a center of innovation by actively encouraging student entrepreneurship and student-run companies,” she continues. “Student-run businesses often involve interacting with professionals, mentors, investors, and potential customers. These networking opportunities may result in beneficial relationships and open doors for potential future employment.”
Shivakantha sees this 2023 launch of this company as only the beginning. “Once we have the product, we will recruit more students from different majors and with different skill sets,” he says proudly. “As we students learn the process of building a company, we will gain much different skills than we would interning at a big company.” He elaborates, “UB has created a better way to get students industry ready – and we can help other people while doing it. Isn’t that what family is all about?”
Interested in learning more about experiential learning at University of Bridgeport? Read more here!