Scott Minoie is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience leading and scaling consumer retail businesses in China. He began his career in the U.S. food & beverage industry before relocating to Shanghai in 1999. In 2001, he co-founded Element Fresh, where he served as the visionary behind the brand’s growth into a premier nationwide chain of 41 restaurants, achieving 500 million RMB ($70 million USD) in annual sales before his exit in 2018.

Following a tenure as an investment banker from 2022 to 2025—where he focused on consumer sector capital markets—Mr. Minoie returned to his roots in brand building and his lifelong passion for the food & beverage industry. He currently oversees the Mainland China business for % Arabica, the world-renowned specialty coffee brand, managing 103 outlets and a rapidly expanding e-commerce and retail portfolio.

Mr. Minoie holds a joint MBA degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). A recognized leader in the Shanghai business community, he serves as an advisor to the Shanghai American Chamber of Commerce's Food-Agriculture-Beverage committee and is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship and China market entry at leading international business schools.