Meghan cashes in on her connections! Duchess invests in ‘women-led wellness start-up’ making $28 instant oat-milk lattes – before gifting the coffee to friend Oprah who plugs it to her 19m Instagram followers
- Meghan Markle is investing in Clevr Blends, which makes ‘superlattes’ in powder form
- The company is run out of Santa Barbara by female CEO Hannah Mendoza
- It has six employees and was founded in January 2019 after running as a pop-up coffee shop in California
- Meghan already sent Oprah a hamper with the products
- Oprah posted them on Instagram and thanked her ‘neighbor’
- Meghan and Harry have also entered into a contract with Netflix
- While they have not confirmed any of the details, it’s thought to be worth more than $100million
- The pair quit royal life in January 2020 after complaining of press intrusion
Meghan Markle is investing in a female-founded start-up that makes the world’s ‘first instant oat milk latte’ which she gifted to Oprah for Christmas.
Meghan is investing in Clevr Blends, which has a range of lattes that come in powder form. It is run by CEO Hannah Mendoza and is based in Santa Barbara, California.
It’s unclear how much money Meghan is putting into the company and what she gets in return.
She wouldn’t reveal those details when she confirmed the investment to Fortune but she is already using her famous friends to promote its products.
On Monday morning, Oprah revealed on Instagram that Meghan had sent her a hamper of products from the company.
She gave it a prominent plug to her 19million followers, saying in a video where she tagged the brand: ‘Wish I had Clevr Blends sooner cause I would’ve added it to my Favorite Things list.’
In a statement to Fortune on Monday, Meghan said: ‘This investment is in support of a passionate female entrepreneur who prioritizes building community alongside her business.
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Meghan appearing on CNN on Monday to thank the ‘quiet heroes’ of the pandemic. On the same day as her rare public TV appearance, she confirmed to Fortune that she’d invested in the company Clevr Blends
Oprah posted the products on her Instagram page on Sunday night, giving the brand a huge plug to her 16million followers
The company sells a range of pre-packaged superfood based latte powders that customers just add water to to mix
‘I’m proud to invest in Hannah’s commitment to sourcing ethical ingredients and creating a product that I personally love and has a holistic approach to wellness.
‘I believe in her and I believe in her company.’
She is said to have contacted the company after sampling their products for herself in 2017.
It also happens to be based near Montecito, where Harry and Meghan live.
Mendoza confirmed Meghan’s investment, saying: ‘Entrepreneurs need funding, but they also need advisers who care deeply about what they are building.
‘I’m grateful to have found both in the Duchess of Sussex.
‘Her passion for what we’re creating is palpable, and I couldn’t imagine a more aligned partnership. We’re excited for the road ahead.’
Clevr Blends has a range of powdered ‘superlattes’ that cost $28 each.
It also sells an $18 branded milk frother and travel mug that is sold out.
It marks Meghan’s first investment since she and Harry left royal life earlier this year.
The pair have also entered into a deal with Netflix, thought to be worth more than $100million.
They have also collected checks for speaking at private engagements since quitting royal life in January 2020 after complaining of press intrusion.
On Monday, Meghan also appeared on CNN in a pre-recorded video message to thank the ‘quiet heroes’ of the pandemic.
Clevr Blends also collaborates with a ‘queer BIPOC lead group’ that focuses on ‘regional mutual aid to uplift food justice projects’
She also recently wrote for The New York Times and revealed she’d suffered a miscarriage.
It comes after months of relative silence from the pair.
Mendoza founded Clevr Blends after setting up a ‘funky coffee pop up bar’.
In a statement on the company’s website, it says: ‘We traveled the California coast, mixing up adaptogenic lattes and mushrooms coffees out the back of a van.
‘It was awesome.
‘Our drinks made people feel amazing—but were hard to re-create at home. We needed an easier way to bring these magical elixirs to people’s daily rituals…so we hit the kitchen!
‘We set out on a mission to create the most delicious, nutrition-rich instant latte on the planet.
‘After 1 year of formulation and meticulous ingredient sourcing later, our SuperLattes were born!’
Mendoza, the CEO, formerly worked at a different superfood snack company.
She graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2014.
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