E20: Steve O’Dell | Tea Time - How Curiosity, Drive, and An Adventure to Japan Led to the Founding of Tenzo Tea

Starting It Up

Steve O’Dell is the co-founder and CEO of LA-based, Tenzo Tea. Tenzo Tea is on a mission to create a better world by sharing the healthiest energy on the planet and donating one year of clean water for every bag purchased. Steve dabbled in entrepreneurial endeavors while in college, and after learning about the benefits of Matcha, knew that this could be a huge opportunity. He and his co-founder went on a karate-kid style trip to Japan where they found a tea master and learned how to create the perfect blend of Matcha tea. Two years later, Tenzo Tea is in 400+ stores around the LA area, has a robust network of online and wholesale distribution, and has raised over $1M to date. We talk about how to capitalize on trends in the market, what the future of health-consciousness looks like, how to position your startup for a successful exit, and more!