Rifqi Maulana

For any budding entrepreneur, being at the heart of the action is crucial. So, when Rifqi Maulana was looking for a location for his master’s to help scale his business, London was key.

“Being based in such a dynamic business hub offered unparalleled access to a network of founders, investors and mentors and gave me opportunities I couldn’t find anywhere else.”

Bayes MSc Entrepreneurship is a master’s unlike any other: entirely focused on entrepreneurship, it guides students through the full entrepreneurial journey, covering everything from startup creation to managing growth and raising investment. Students also benefit from a dedicated entrepreneurial mentor and can access the workspace and activities organised by City Ventures.

Building a business with passion

Originally from Indonesia, Rifqi’s love for his country and its coffee is the driving force behind building his business – working as a Strategist for his Indonesian coffee importing venture, Dawn Coffee Curators.

“I chose Bayes for its strong emphasis on practical, entrepreneurship-focused modules and its location in the heart of the City of London. The School’s hands-on approach to operations, finance, and supply chain management, combined with its international outlook, was especially appealing to me as someone from a coffee-producing country aiming to bridge the gap between origin and consumer markets.”

“I wanted a course that would help me structure my business approach within the B2B sector, while deepening my understanding of how to build a scalable, international venture. I was looking for practical tools, exposure to real-world challenges, and insights from professionals who have successfully bootstrapped businesses - particularly from a corporate perspective.”

Rifqi is currently also working full-time as a Senior Production Roaster at Hermanos Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee chain based in London.

“These two roles allow me to stay deeply connected to both the supply chain and entrepreneurial sides of the industry, actively participate in international B2B trade shows, and go back and forth between the UK and Indonesia to connect the buyers and suppliers. Most recently, in April, I competed in the UK Brewers Cup Championship and placed 5^th in the final.”

Applying the learning

Bayes' highly ranked approach to entrepreneurship education, revolves around live startup projects and interactive case discussions, helping students gain the skills needed to accelerate business development.

“The MSc Entrepreneurship gave me a structured way to test and validate my business concept, which has been invaluable as I build Dawn Coffee Curators. The High Growth Entrepreneurship module was particularly impactful - it taught me how to assess the scalability of my venture, understand the critical growth levers, and design a sustainable, high-growth strategy. That knowledge has been key as I bridge UK buyers and Indonesian suppliers, ensuring that Dawn Coffee Curators can expand its reach internationally while maintaining a strong focus on quality and supply chain integrity. The course’s emphasis on practical tools and real-world challenges, combined with its strong network of mentors, has really helped me translate the vision of connecting origin and consumer markets into a tangible, actionable business plan.”

“Another module with real impact was the Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) module taught by Professor Scott Moeller. It was highly interactive – we acted as bidders pitching to acquire a company being sold, competing to make the most compelling offer.”

“This approach brought the theoretical concepts of valuation, negotiation, and deal-structuring to life in a very practical way. It was both challenging and rewarding to think like a potential acquirer, strategising to balance financial logic with the human factors that make or break a deal. The experience was especially relevant to my entrepreneurial journey, where understanding M&A dynamics can be crucial in scaling a business like Dawn Coffee Curators or positioning it for strategic partnerships.”

“Another of my favourite modules was Sales Management, taught by Ypatios Moysiadis, which taught me how to approach sales strategically, build relationships, and close deals in the B2B space. The final group project, where we developed and delivered a compelling sales pitch, was a key learning experience that reinforced the importance of tailoring a pitch to different audiences - a skill that has been invaluable as I expand my venture.”

In Term 3, students can choose from several electives, which for Rifqi included an international elective, Creating Value with Suppliers, at the University of Bologna in Italy.

“This elective was invaluable for understanding supplier dynamics in a global context, something directly applicable to my work with Dawn Coffee Curators.”

Working with real-world clients

In the Entrepreneurial Advisor module, students go beyond their own venture by teaming up with fellow students to consult for a real startup. They dive into research, working directly with founders, to create a professional advice report that can shape the future of that company. For Rifqi, it was a chance to build insight, experience, and impact.

“I had the opportunity to work with Flowerista, a creative consultancy agency from Italy looking to expand into the UK market. Our project focused on helping them understand the UK’s creative industries landscape and develop an entry strategy tailored to the local market dynamics. We conducted extensive research on freelancers and SMEs in the creative sector, including interviews and competitor analysis, to help Flowerista refine its pricing models, service offerings, and client acquisition strategies. This project gave me hands-on experience in advising a real company on international market expansion and allowed me to apply frameworks and skills from the course directly to a real-world challenge.”

Personalised mentoring which unlocks potential

Another key component of the MSc Entrepreneurship is access to an experienced practitioner, who acts as a mentor. Rifqi explains:

“The support from the staff at Bayes was exceptional throughout the programme. My entrepreneurial mentor was Professor Scott Moeller. Drawing on his deep expertise, he helped me think strategically about scaling my business, securing funding, and navigating the complexities of international markets - insights that have been crucial to building Dawn Coffee Curators.”

“From my time on the MSc, I’ve learned that I thrive at the intersection of entrepreneurship and operations - balancing the creative energy of building a new venture with the discipline needed to run a scalable, international business. The course also showed me that my strength lies in bridging different worlds, connecting producers in origin countries with buyers in global markets, and that I am most effective when I can integrate cultural insights with strategic thinking.”

Looking to the future

“I am excited about building bridges between coffee producers in origin countries and buyers in international markets, creating fairer, more sustainable value chains in the process. I see huge potential for transforming how coffee is sourced, marketed, and enjoyed, with a focus on traceability, quality, and producer equity. I’m also motivated by the challenge of scaling Dawn Coffee Curators to become a trusted partner for specialty coffee in the UK and beyond. Additionally, I’m looking forward to competing again next year in the UK Brewers Cup with the goal of reaching an even higher target, possibly even winning it to represent the UK in the World Brewers Cup.”

What advice does Rifqi have for someone thinking of following in his footsteps on the MSc Entrepreneurship?

“Be open-minded and ready to challenge your assumptions. Come in with an idea or a problem you’re passionate about solving, but don’t be afraid to pivot or adapt as you learn. Take full advantage of the network: your peers, professors, and mentors are some of the best resources you’ll have. Most importantly, apply what you learn to real-world situations as soon as possible - the more you test your ideas, the more you will grow.”

“Looking back on my time at Bayes, the highlight was definitely how I got to mix what I was learning in class with real-world experiences, like going to trade shows in London and Copenhagen. It was a busy time juggling everything, but those experiences really helped me see the bigger picture in the coffee industry and put theory into practice. It was challenging, but incredibly rewarding, and it definitely helped me grow both professionally and personally.”