Teforia's flagship product is an internet-connected tea infuser that brews the company’s pre-packed “Sips” or loose-leaf tea placed into an "infusion globe." The device is controlled via a mobile app that lets users create, share and store brewing recipes, and it can also be operated manually. Founder and CEO Allen Han, previously known for designing the XBOX, emphasized a sleek, consumer-electronics design that contrasts with traditional kitchen appliances. The company generates revenue from machine sales, subscriptions and tea sales and currently employs 24 full-time staff. Teforia plans to use new funding to hire, scale manufacturing, expand marketing and bolster customer support, with an operational focus on North America first. The product is positioned against single-serve and specialty brewers like Keurig, Chime and the high-end Bkon, aiming to capture part of the large U.S. wholesale tea market. Teforia produces a high-end tea-brewing machine that applies a proprietary Selective Infusion Profile (SIP) system to tailor brews to different tea varietals. The device was developed by founder Allen Han, who emphasizes a scientific and artistic approach to infusion and visibility of the brewing process. The company ran a successful pre-order campaign that generated roughly $300,000 and sold out an initial run of 500 machines. Teforia plans a second batch of 250 units priced at $699, later moving to a $1,299 retail price, with delivery slated for spring 2016. The startup positions itself against lower-priced competitors by targeting devoted consumers and leveraging SIP to differentiate product quality. Market context cited in the article notes the global tea industry is about $37 billion and projected to grow to $44 billion by 2021. The company intends to use new capital to build machines, fund R&D, and grow the team.

Total raised

$17M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Nov 2016