Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Kovalevski, founder, and CEO of Waka Coffee & Tea, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We started Waka to make your day just a bit easier, so you can spend more time on the things you love. Our quality instant coffees and teas are your effortless solution for delicious drinks at home or on the go. Less waste, no equipment or mess, just add water and enjoy.
Our instant coffees are made of 100% Arabica beans. Most instant coffee brands use cheaper Robusta beans, while Arabica beans are frequently found in your favorite coffee shops. The Arabica advantage gives our instant coffee a richer, more complex flavor.
Our instant teas are made of 100% tea leaves. Enjoy the same benefits of steeped tea in the form of a premium powder. No artificial colors, carriers, sweeteners, or fillers. Just like our coffees, are teas will fully dissolve in your cup, leaving no waste at all.
Tell us about yourself
I came up with the idea for Waka Coffee while living in New York City, juggling a hectic schedule as a full-time undergraduate student with a full-time job. I relied on coffee to fuel my daily routine. However, I quickly discovered that frequenting coffee shops and making coffee in a cramped NYC kitchen was complicated, time-consuming, and expensive.
Growing up in Israel, I was accustomed to drinking instant coffee, in addition to other coffee preparation methods, which made my coffee experience much easier. I hoped to find a good brand in the U.S. as well, but I quickly realized that most consumers in the U.S. distance themselves from instant coffee because of the low quality and harsh taste most local brands offer.
Waka strives to provide only the finest products to help you go through your busy day. As the company grew, we realized that sometimes you might want tea instead of coffee. This is why we are now also offering quality instant teas as a convenient alternative to our main product lines. I studied and worked in marketing in NYC before launching Waka, which really helped me to understand consumer mindsets better. I created Waka with the goal of making their life easier as it relates to their coffee and tea routines.
Our products are more affordable compared to other coffee options, super quick and easy to make anywhere, and we generate less waste. Solving these small life problems for our customers and making their livelihood just a bit easier is what motivates me. We are on a mission to revive the instant coffee and tea categories. We are excited to see more consumers giving instant products a try.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I bootstrapped the business for the first three years with no outside capital, so staying in business and growing every year with limited resources is by far one of my biggest accomplishments. Also, looking back and seeing the amount of customers that gave our products a try and stayed with us over the years, our suppliers that keep believing in our mission, and all other stakeholders that joined over the years to a company I started by myself from a laptop in my living room is quite inspiring.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Work/life balance, which unfortunately barely exists in my case. I'm very passionate, and I'm also enjoying my work, so pushing beyond a healthy work schedule happens quite often. This is something that I keep working on for my productivity and continued mental health.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start small and grow smartly. It's really easy to fall for the shiny headlines about companies with immediate success, but these stories are rarely as good as they sound.
- It's ok not always to know the outcome. No projection, plan, or forecast will be accurate all the time. It's ok to pivot, change, start fresh and take advantage of new opportunities. Entrepreneurship is about trial and error.
- Look for a co-founder, mentor, or business coach. I started the business as a single founder, which was challenging not only operationally but also emotionally. Owning a business is an emotional roller coaster, and you want to have someone else to share the challenges with. Sharing it with your significant other is a great option too. I am really lucky to have a supportive wife, but sharing it with someone who is involved in the daily operations is a different experience that I realized once I started working with my mentors and advisors.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
My biggest suggestion is "just try." If you are really passionate about something, there is no reason why another entrepreneur will be smarter or more capable than you in this area. It all comes down to patience and perseverance.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.wakacoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wakacoffee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wakacoffee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/trywakacoffee
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wakacoffee/
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.