Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Crane.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
A few years ago, I was working long hours in finance, not getting a lot of sleep and fueling myself with sugary sodas, high-octane energy drinks, or coffees that made me feel too jittery to be productive. After repeatedly pushing my body to its limit, I finally decided that I was tired of being tired, and that I wasn’t satisfied with the same old ready-to-drink beverage options on the shelves.
My cofounder, Austin Gallagher and I wanted to craft a product that was revitalizing, uplifting and clean – we wanted plant-based energy that was free from all the junk. We experimented with organic whole-leaf teas and revitalizing ingredients such as ginger and turmeric, and we mixed it all together in a SodaStream. The best blends were the ones that perked us up but weren’t overly sweet, and we decided to run with that theme.
After formulating for the better part of a year and enduring a seemingly endless stream of hiccups along the way, Tempo sparkling tea, hit the market in late 2017. We’ve seen strong interest from Chicago-area consumers looking for a healthy and revitalizing beverage option and are looking forward to continuing the momentum into 2018.
Has it been a smooth road?
Entrepreneurship carries a limitless series of unforeseen obstacles to navigate – that’s part of the fun. And while the daily obstacles we face can be frustrating at times, they’re typically manageable on their own. The real challenge is in finding a way to stay focused through the roller coaster ride of ups and downs that these obstacles create. Watching a promising new business opportunity unexpectedly fall apart, and then immediately picking yourself up to start building a path to the next opportunity is a situation that most entrepreneurs know they’ll have to navigate. Doing that over and over again is the real challenge.
Thankfully, I have a wonderful set of friends and mentors that are always willing to offer support, guidance, and encouragement through these challenges and hurdles. I also have a fantastic co-founder in Austin that always keeps the positive energy flowing. They’ve given me the confidence to stare down the unknown and continue to drive forward.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Tempo story. Tell us more about the business.
Tempo is a new company that aims to re-think ordinary beverages for the modern consumer. Our beverages are thoughtfully crafted to be functional, plant-based, and clean. We launched into the market in 2017 with our organic sparkling teas and are really excited to provide a new solution for people that want a healthy and revitalizing pick-me-up that is free from all the junk. We don’t add sugars or sweeteners to our sparkling teas – we let the ingredients speak for themselves.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think that consumers will continue to demand cleaner products and greater label transparency. Our goal is to provide an authentically clean solution that health-conscious consumers can trust.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tempobev.com
- Email: ryan@tempobev.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tempobev/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tempobev
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tempobev
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