yisen tea
We are creating a modern tea brand that combines whole-leaf matcha bags with a reusable infusion capsule, offering a premium and sustainable tea ritual, matcha in stick packs for busy professionals and students.
Scarlett Li
UvA/Erasmus
Over het initiatief / About the initiative
In welke fase zit jouw initiatief? / In what stage is your initiative?
Startupfase
Heb je jouw initiatief al gevalideerd? / Did you validate your initiative?
we have website and social media account, also some toC customers already
Wat is er anders/nieuw aan jouw idee/oplossing t.o.v. bestaande oplossingen? / What is different/new about your idea/solution compared to existing solutions??
Unlike most tea bags on the market made from broken or low-grade leaves, we use whole-leaf tea and high-quality matcha, paired with a reusable infusion capsule—allowing multiple brews with less waste, more flavor, and a calm, sustainable ritual.
Wat zijn jouw volgende stappen om het verder te ontwikkelen? / What are your next steps to develop the initiative?
Our next steps include refining the packaging of our reusable infusion capsule for mass production, finalizing our supplier for premium whole-leaf matcha and tea, and launching a limited pilot collection for early adopters. We are also building an online platform to educate consumers on mindful tea rituals and promote a low-waste lifestyle. Finally, we plan to collect user feedback and optimize the multi-steep experience before scaling through retail and digital channels.
Wat heb je nodig om (nog meer) impact te maken met dit initiatief? / What do you need to make (more) impact with this initiative?
As international students building this from scratch, external guidance and visibility are crucial for us to navigate product, culture, and market alignment. To create greater impact, we need funding to further develop our reusable infusion capsule and scale up production of high-quality whole-leaf tea. In addition, we are seeking branding and marketing guidance to better communicate our values—such as sustainability, calm living, and conscious consumption—to a wider European audience. As student founders, we would also benefit from mentorship in launching an ethical lifestyle brand across borders.