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Steve 🍵 O'Dell

Co-founder, CEO @ Tenzo | Forbes 30 under 30

Steve O'Dell is an entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Tenzo Tea, a direct-to-consumer organic matcha tea company.12 He started the company after discovering matcha during a Google search for "what is the healthiest form of energy?" and was immediately impressed by its impact on his life.1

Early Life and Education: O'Dell attended UCLA briefly, studying History from 2012-2016, but ultimately dropped out to pursue entrepreneurship.4 Before Tenzo Tea, he was involved in multiple startup ventures, including Ad Valorum, The Odd Job Brothers, KOTU Inc., Iliad Tech, ACCESS, and is currently an investor in Jibby Coffee.2

Entrepreneurial Journey: He co-founded Tenzo Tea with a friend, sourcing ceremonial matcha green tea powder from Japan.1 The company has been successful, being featured in publications like Entrepreneur, CBS, and People.2 O'Dell has been strategic in growing the business, implementing techniques that increased the company's lifetime value by over 50%.2

Notable Achievements:

  • Raised $650,000 in funding3
  • Successfully navigated financial challenges by securing alternative financing3
  • Received investment from the former CFO of Dr. Pepper Snapple3
  • Based in the Greater Los Angeles Area4

Personal Details:

  • Location: New York, New York
  • Languages: English (native), Spanish (professional working proficiency)
  • LinkedIn: steve-o-dell-236a3b33

Highlights

Aug 9 · Forbes
30 Under 30 Local 2023: Los Angeles - Forbes
30 Under 30 Local 2023: Los Angeles - Forbes
Steve O'Dell: Spilling The Tea on Entrepreneurship | E17 - YAP
Steve O'Dell: Spilling The Tea on Entrepreneurship | E17 - YAP
Nov 23 · Benzinga
Tenzo Launches a Matcha Holiday Bundle for Black Friday Sale; 30% Off - Benzinga
Dec 22 · youtube.com
Steve O'Dell, cofounder and CEO of Tenzo Tea | Founder Interview
Steve O'Dell, cofounder and CEO of Tenzo Tea | Founder Interview
Mar 18 · thefounderhour.com
Steve O'Dell: Tenzo Tea — The Founder Hour | Podcast
Steve O'Dell: Tenzo Tea — The Founder Hour | Podcast
Jan 1 · splitbase.com
The Strategy That Dramatically Increased Tenzo Tea's LTV by 50%
The Strategy That Dramatically Increased Tenzo Tea's LTV by 50%

Related Questions

What inspired Steve O'Dell to start Tenzo Tea?
How did Steve O'Dell's volleyball career influence his entrepreneurial journey?
What are some of the biggest challenges Steve O'Dell faced while scaling Tenzo Tea?
How did Steve O'Dell's first business ventures prepare him for Tenzo Tea?
What strategies did Steve O'Dell use to increase Tenzo Tea's lifetime value by 50%?
Steve 🍵 O'Dell
Steve 🍵 O'Dell, photo 1
Steve 🍵 O'Dell, photo 2
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Location

New York, New York, United States