Bird Blend Tea Co Alumni returns as ‘Dragon’ to ignite entrepreneurial spark
Bird Blend Tea Co Alumni returns as ‘Dragon’ to ignite entrepreneurial spark
Bird & Blend’s Krisi Smith joins Nottingham’s entrepreneurial elite as ‘Angel’ investor, paying forward a decade of success.
10 years ago Krisi and Mike, two Nottingham startup entrepreneurs were winners of a local Dragons den style event with their impressive Bluebird Tea Company pitch. Today Co-Founder & Owner, Krisi returns to join a panel of local Business leaders to support new startup enterprises in Nottingham.
The multi-award winning tea company, now called Bird & Blend Tea Co., is based in Brighton, has 17 stores around the UK and a thriving international online shop.
The local Dragons Dens are run by Nottinghamshire Community Foundation, an independent charity who encourages and supports local philanthropy. Nina Dauban CEO, said,
“We are thrilled to have one of our previous winners sit on the panel as a new ‘Dragon’. We use the term ‘Dragon’ so people understand the concept but they are really ‘Angels’. It is wonderful to see our successful business leaders fight to become the kindest and most helpful on the panel. Winners not only get a bit of cash but they get lots of help, advice and gifts in kind.”
Krisi tells us why she’s getting involved,
“10 years ago we were given great encouragement and a cash grant which enabled us to enter the top nationwide awards for food & drink and we won the highest level of awards you can get in the UK! I’m passionate about inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and this is a great opportunity for me to give back and help startups who have amazing business ideas and really believe in what they’re doing.”
The next den is set for early 2024 and the application portal is now open on our website. If you have a great business idea and can put a viable business plan together please apply.
If you are between 18 and 30 yrs old and want a new business start up grant without attending a Den please apply to the other enterprise scheme here
For more information and free advice about setting up an individual charitable fund as a company, a family or In loving memory / Legacy please go the website for more info.
Last year, Krisi sat on the judging panel for the People in Retail Awards and were shortlisted. Entries for the People in Retail Awards 2024 are now open.
