CIBC Spotlight on Culture Craft Kombucha: Community Inspired Flavours

Futurpreneur Canada recognizes the hard work, determination and passion it takes to start a business. That is why we teamed up with CIBC for a campaign to recognize the milestones (big or small) that our entrepreneurs reach while starting and growing their businesses.

As a part of the campaign, we’re encouraging our Futurpreneurs to share their start-up successes using the hashtag #FuturHighFive on social media. Dan Larsen, of Culture Craft Kombucha, is one of those success stories.

Twisting the cap off and taking that first sip of fizzy goodness isn’t the most satisfying part about drinking kombucha – it’s the way it makes you feel.

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that has been around for hundreds of years. It is hard to say where exactly the health elixir was created; the drink has been linked to China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia. However, the health drink has become increasingly popular in the last couple years, and that is nothing but good news for conscious entrepreneurs like Dan Larsen.

Dan is a passionate entrepreneur that grew up in Richmond, BC. At 30 years old, he is now the proud owner of Culture Craft Kombucha. The company only uses organic, fresh and local ingredients and produce from the Pacific Northwest. “It is important to us that we support BC organic growers and local food systems as much as we can,” he says. “Culture Craft Kombucha aims to deliver a refreshing and conscious beverage, made from the highest quality organic ingredients.”

Before entrepreneurship, Dan worked as a professional chef, but found the long hours made it hard for him to achieve a healthy work-life balance. “For years, I worked 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, and it turns out I missed out on the things I valued most,” he says. While he still considers himself a workaholic, he now has a more flexible schedule with room for family, friends, and time to himself.

Dan has many milestones to be proud of over such a short period time. What has stood out is celebrating a year and a half in business and the healthy relationships he has built between him, his vendors and their customers. “It’s truly a great feeling to build partnerships within our community and to be a part of mutual cumulative growth,” he says.

Even as kombucha grows in popularity, it is still challenging for newer businesses like Culture Craft to break through the noise and build a strong customer base. Dan believes his company’s recipe for success is creating beverage flavours that are inspired by his community. “Culture Craft uses high-quality produce from the region and that resonates with local buyers,” he says.

Futurpreneur Canada supported the launch of Culture Craft with its Start-Up Program, which offers financing and mentoring to young entrepreneurs. “Futurpreneur has provided me not only with the start-up capital necessary to keep the wheels turning, but with a fantastic mentor who is there to help guide me along the path of entrepreneurship,” says Dan. He adds, “The organization has also helped me to attend the Feeding Growth Seminar series, which focused on all aspects of owning and growing a progressive food company.”

Dan offers a piece of advice to any individual thinking of starting their own business: “Set out clear, achievable goals and continue to improve small aspects of your business each and every day. Kaizen, as the Japanese call it. Oh yeah — and hustle!”

Want to be featured in a #FuturHighFive Entrepreneur Spotlight? Share you start-up milestones using #FuturHighFive on Instagram and Twitter!