Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nishchal Banskota, founder, and owner of Nepal Tea, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Nepal Tea is a Public Benefit Corporation that distributes the freshest teas in the US directly from the producers in Nepal. We’re on a mission to bridge the ever-widening gap between the producers and the consumers by cutting down the unwarranted middle, empowering farmers, and leveraging technology. Tea is not just a beverage for us; it is a catalyst for social change!

Tell us about yourself

I grew up in Nepal and witnessed first-hand the impacts a beverage like tea could have on people. I saw how this tea leaf (Camellia Sinensis) transformed communities and uplifted people from poverty. Believing in the knowledge passed down by my father, I moved to America and started my own tea company. I believed that bringing something as inherently local as Nepali tea to America’s massive global platform could widen the impact of my favorite beverage and shine a light on the amazingly complex culture within Nepal. By working directly with four smallholder tea farmers, we eliminate exploitative middlemen and directly support over 200 families working in the tea industry. To date, we have connected over 10,000 customers to our primary tea producers and sold over 8 million cups of tea. We aim to make Nepali teas an international delicacy and support one million farmers through education and livelihood financing in the next five years.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I believe every single thing in the world, including myself, is a work in progress but being able to create a product/service that other people around the world love is just such a gratifying feeling. Furthermore, being able to see the happy faces of the farmers that we have positively impacted is my accomplishment so far! Being able to say that I was responsible (in tiny form) for their happiness is my biggest accomplishment.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Being comfortable in the most uncomfortable situations is the hardest part but, at the same time, is the most important trait of a successful business owner.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Start today! Don’t overthink it, just go for it, and things will fall into place.
  2. Do not underestimate the power of a simple “ASK.” Just ask!
  3. Have patience and persistence!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

While entrepreneurship is mostly glamorized these days, people don’t really talk about it in a solo founder’s or an entrepreneur’s journey because it is lonely at first! You’re just on your own but don’t let that deter you from what you are creating; you’ll be the force that ultimately will bring people together.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://nepalteallc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nepalteallc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nepalteallc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nepalteallc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishchal-banskota-09a83861/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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