The founder of a huge boba chain said he opened stores next to Starbucks to get a fraction of its customers

Tech Insider : Business
Facade of Gong cha bubble tea shop with open sign and promotional posters on a sunny day, San Francisco, California, August 19, 2025.
Gong Cha's founder said he opened his first few stores in strategic locations.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

I tried Starbucks' new boba-inspired summer drinks. They looked stunning, but one was really lacking in flavor, and I wouldn't pick them over real boba.

Tech Insider
Starbucks' new summer skies drink and lemonade refresher, lined up on a table
I tried the Summer Skies Drink Starbucks Refreshers Beverage and the Summer-Berry Lemonade Starbucks Refreshers Beverage.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

Starbucks says it's launching boba-inspired drinks this summer

Tech Insider
young man works with laptop and drinks bubble milk tea at cafe
Boba, also known as bubble tea, is a Taiwanese drink made up of milk, tea, and chewy tapioca. pearls.

PonyWang/Getty Images

Subscribe to bubble-tea