Ajai Thandi graduated from the USC Marshall School of Business in 2013, which led to him co-founding Sleepy Owl Coffee. (USC Photo/Sean Dube)

Ajai Thandi graduated from the USC Marshall School of Business in 2013, which led to him co-founding Sleepy Owl Coffee. (USC Photo/Sean Dube)

Alumni

[WATCH] A Trojan’s Brew: How USC Inspired the Founder of Sleepy Owl Coffee

Ajai Thandi ’13 says USC campus coffee runs jolted his entrepreneurial spirit.

November 07, 2025 By USC staff

Ajai Thandi ’13, co-founder of Sleepy Owl Coffee, discusses how campus coffee breaks at USC inspired him to build one of India’s fastest-growing beverage brands. Thandi says his time at the USC Marshall School of Business shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, as he joined USC’s banking and finance student organizations and was surrounded by peers who motivated him to think bigger.

He also credits support from the Trojan Family network, which helped him navigate the challenges of building a business long after graduation.

Read more about Thandi in Trojan Family Magazine.