Plato Coffee Founder Story: Stephan Bredell
Thu Nov 20, 13:00 - Thu Nov 20, 14:30
Innovation City
ABOUT
Plato Coffee Founder Story with Stephan Bredell
20 November 2025 | 13:00–14:30 | Innovation City Cape Town
From a shipping-container side hustle to a national coffee brand, Plato Coffee has grown at pace while staying relentlessly community-focused. In this Founder Story, CEO and co-founder Stephan Bredell unpacks the operating playbook behind Plato Coffee's rise, covering brand building, disciplined unit economics, vertical integration (roastery, bakery, equipment), and the culture choices that keep quality consistent at scale.
Stephan will also share what’s next, including talent development and training (Plato Academy), and how the team evaluates new locations, partnerships, and franchising momentum. Expect a frank coversation about wins, stumbles, and the systems that turned purpose into repeatable growth.
Who it’s for
- Startup founders and operators scaling physical or hybrid retail
- Franchise and multi-unit leaders refining playbooks
- Brand/marketing teams building community-led growth
- Investors scanning consumer and F&B concepts in South Africa
What you’ll get
- A practical breakdown of Plato Coffee’s growth model from 0 ? 100+ locations
- Lessons on brand consistency, training, and quality control at scale
- How to balance speed, margins, and community in a franchise system
- Q&A on site selection, partnerships, and ops metrics that matter
Seats are limited. Get your ticket now!
SPEAKER
Stephan Bredell is the CEO and co-founder of Plato Coffee, the South African specialty coffee brand he launched with his brother, Petrus, in 2019. Starting from a container kiosk, the company has expanded to 100+ locations nationwide, underpinned by a vertically integrated model; own roastery, in-house bakery, and equipment supply, that protects quality and margins while scaling.
Stephan’s focus is building a loved lifestyle brand through consistency, connection, and craft; current priorities include talent development via the Plato Academy in Cape Town.
INNOVATION CITY MEMBERS
EVENT ATTENDANCE
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VIDEO
DISCLAIMER
PARKING
Traffic Alert: Please be cautious of traffic heading into town.
Parking Options:
- Behind the Spar on Kloof Street.
- Kloof Street and surrounding areas.
- Parkade Kloof Lifestyle Center on Park Road.