Long drives turn Greenville software engineer into candy entrepreneur
Summary
When inspiration struck, Li left behind his career as a software engineer to pursue an idea from the road — edible coffee, a caffeinated product that doesn’t lead to restroom breaks during long drives. Today Li is founder of Greenville-based COG LLC and developer of the company’s only product so far: Coffee Candy. He has tapped in to local bankers (who also became his first customers) and the expertise of NEXT, the Greenville Chamber’s entrepreneurial support organization, where he has found mentorship. He thinks Coffee Candy would be particularly handy for people like truck drivers, factory workers and construction crews that don’t want to take the time for a restroom break. Some employers have ordered it by the case for their workers and at least one company plans to add it to the breakroom vending machine.