Project Description
Xpresso.AI is the evolution of “eXspresso” — a coffee delivery service launched in December 2020 in Krasnodar. The project began as an experiment: delivering coffee from nearby cafés within 15 minutes, operated by two people without investments in equipment or marketing. The concept was built around fast, heartfelt delivery with personal touches — handwritten messages on cup lids, holiday gifts, and exceptional service.
In June 2024, the project was rebranded and transformed into Xpresso.AI — an AI-driven platform for menu personalization and recommendation systems for restaurants, cafés, and e-commerce.
Between April and May 2024, Xpresso.AI completed the EWA international accelerator in Dubai. It is now in the early stage of AI concept development, team assembly, architecture design of the recommender engine, and partnership preparation with restaurants and marketplaces.
The original coffee spot in Krasnodar still operates under the “eXspresso” brand, serving customers for over five years.
Key Milestones
- Dec 7, 2020: First test orders fulfilled from a local café
- Dec 25, 2020: 100th coffee delivered, product hypothesis validated, home-based production launched
- Jan 2021: First hires, reached breakeven at 40+ cups/day
- Feb 2021: 1,000th cup sold; daily revenue grew 211% in one week; new customer segment identified
- Mar–Apr 2021: Scaled without marketing budget; reached RUB 700,000 in monthly turnover and RUB 120,000 in net profit; mobile app launched
- Aug 2021: Business sold with 5x ROI
- Mar 2024: Business resold to a customer; next growth stage initiated
- Apr–May 2024: Participation in the EWA accelerator (Dubai), launch of “Xpresso.AI”
- July 2025: “эКспрессо” continues operating in Krasnodar; Xpresso.AI is under active development as an AI platform for restaurants and marketplaces
Results and Achievements
- From zero to RUB 700,000 monthly turnover and RUB 120,000 net profit in just 4 months
- 1,000th cup sold within 7 weeks of launch
- Proven demand for both coffee and desserts
- Business sold twice, with a 5x ROI
- Built a strong emotional brand with NPS > 90%
My Roles and Responsibilities
- Founder, CEO: Idea generation, hypothesis testing, business model and financial planning
- COO: Team hiring, logistics setup, process launch, customer service organization
- Product Manager: Designed key product features (e.g., lid messages, holiday gifts), UX mapping
- Barista & Courier at launch stage: Hands-on execution for deep process understanding
Key Competencies Demonstrated
- MVP launch and hypothesis testing with minimal budget
- Unit economics development and optimization
- Operational management and process automation
- Customer service excellence and community building
- Business exit strategy and preparation for sale
Xpresso.AI is a strong example of how entrepreneurial instinct, system thinking, and customer-centricity can lead to sustainable business creation — even in unconventional conditions.
