As a student in the University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business (‘02) Matt Thomas never dreamed that a simple prompt in class senior year would turn into a $50+ million business.
As the founder and CEO of Brew Dr. Kombucha, Matt is a massively successful beverage entrepreneur who leads with a growth mindset.
Assigned a straightforward student project -- develop a business plan for an underserved market – Matt landed on tea drinkers. His vision? A teahouse, with all things tea under one roof.
Hear Matt chart the course of this success story, from his early days scraping by on capital loaned by family and friends, to the founding of seven teahouses and ultimately a product now sold nationally, including at Starbucks. Learn about the turning point in 2008, when Matt dared to dream bigger for his company and produce a beverage – kombucha, a fermented tea prized for its healing properties since ancient times but still little known in the US at the time –that his customers kept asking for. From initial seed money coming exclusively from family and friends, to the hustle years, to why Matt’s kids help him come up with the funny phrases under each Brew Dr. Kombucha bottle cap, learn about the many other challenges Matt met along the way, including those that ultimately inspired him to found the world’s first and only tea distillery.
Matt Thomas is being interviewed on the podcast by Lisa
Calevi, Associate Director for Engagement.
To connect with Matt, visit: https://www.brewdrkombucha.com
Keep in touch!
Follow the team @uo_the_duck_stops_here on IG to stay up on the latest podcast
and alumni news and events.
Shoot us an email at Engagement@uoregon.edu
Music credits: "Leaving Home" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under
Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ • "Funkorama"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed
under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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