Cusa Tea raises funds to accelerate product development

Cusa Tea has raised $2.5m in a Series A funding round to expand its distribution and accelerate product development.

The funding round was led by Break Trail Ventures and S Cap. It was also joined by the company’s existing and new investors Organic X Labs, Smart Capital and Service Provider’s Capital.

The investment brings the instant tea maker’s total funding since launching its beverage platform to $3.6m.

In addition to expanding distribution and accelerating product development, the proceeds will also be used to expand the company’s sales and marketing efforts.

Break Trail Ventures manager Jay Hirsch said: “They (Cusa Tea) have an incredibly strong brand with a great shelf presence that is shaking up the tea space.

“Cusa Tea removes the sacrifices that usually come with any instant product by delivering for customers a better, more consistent and more convenient cup of tea.

“We are excited to see them continue to leverage their IP to deliver superior instant tea and other products to customers who shouldn’t need to choose between convenience and quality.”

S CAP founder Jim Cali said: “Cusa Tea is a breakthrough in the tea category and offers the potential for disruption across the broader healthy beverage market.

“We have found it to be a superior cup of hot tea, winning medals at the Global Tea Championship versus the best loose leaf and bag competitors in the world. It also mixes quickly in cold water, transforming a bottle of water into a superior iced tea drink.

As part of the investment agreement, Hirsch and Cali will join Cusa Tea’s board of directors.

Since its launch in 2017, Cusa Tea has expanded its footprint to more than 1,400 retail locations with partners like Sprouts, REI, King Soopers, Safeway, HEB and Cost Plus World Market.