Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co. is one of seven national finalists in the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars Network annual pitch competition, where student entrepreneurs from across the LaunchPad network vie for a chance to win over $50,000 in prize money. The winner will be named today at the Blackstone Global Conference.
Yaupon Brothers was founded in 2015 by Bryon White, recipient of a Specialty Food Association 2021 Leadership Award for Citizenship, along with his brother Kyle White and former mentor-turned-business partner, Mark Steele. Based in Edgewater, Florida the company makes several blends of tea from a native Floridian plant called Yaupon Holly; a naturally caffeinated, antioxidant-rich superfood that has been consumed for thousands of years by several Native American Tribes in the southeastern U.S.
The company was nominated for this competition by the University of Central Florida, where Kyle White is completing his degree. It has been through a series of qualifying rounds; evaluated on innovation, business model viability, team and quality of their pitch.
Related: Bryon White, Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co., Wins Leadership Award for Citizenship; Specialty Food Innovators Weigh In on Trends.
Image: Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co.