MAI Kombucha III

Based in Porto, MAI Kombucha is a company that produces and sells kombucha, a drink of Chinese origin with more than 2000 years, made through the fermentation of the green tea herb (Camellia sinensis). The consumption of kombucha has been associated with beneficial effects on health of its consumers, namely in the improvement of the intestinal microbiota and of the immune system. This may be due to the presence of B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12), vitamin C and probiotics.

MAI Kombucha was conceived by Gonçalo Campos, who had the dream of creating a company that would contribute to the positive transformation of the beverage industry, which was developed without thinking about the health of the planet and the consumer. This is how, in 2020, MAI was born, with the dream of contributing to a world with less soft drinks and more kombuchas, less preservatives and more life, less plastic and more nature, a more natural and less artificial world. The brand was born in Gonçalo's kitchen and, since then, has gone through an intense process of evolution and growth.

MAI Kombucha's mission is to spread the culture of kombucha in Portugal and Spain, through the production and marketing of an authentic drink and the dissemination of knowledge about fermentation for home production. The purpose of the start-up is to inspire positive experiences in people's lives and to be an agent of change in the food industry and in consumer habits.

Once the first phase of the project was completed - developing the brand and the product - a truly living, healthy kombucha, made with organic ingredients and naturally carbonated - a second phase started - based on industrialization and responsible growth while respecting the product principles and quality. 

After two successful GoParity campaigns: one (9.000€) to purchase a 25 m2 cold room and increase the company's storage capacity, and then a second one (11.000€) to boost production capacity.

The funds raised through this third campaign will be used to: 

• To enable the production of canned Kombuchas for the largest festivals in Portugal to be held in July and August.
• Financing production cost to meet the current orders, before receiving full payment.

Production during the months of June and July will reach 16 thousand liters, which represents 5 times more than the company's current monthly production/sales.

Currently, production takes place in a 100m2 factory in Leça da Palmeira (Porto Metropolitan Area). The company also rents a small warehouse in Matosinhos. In July 2020, the startup sold 200L of kombuchas. In the same month of the following year, the value increased to 1,500L. 

While the initial projections, for this summer of 2022, were to sell over 3,000 L sold per month, the number has already been surpassed in pre-orders. The brand hopes to break all records during its first summer with reduced covid-19 restrictions for events and festivals.

MAI's Kombucha needs to be stored in the cold as it is a live drink (not pasteurized), with natural fermentation and without industrial techniques that detract from its benefits. After the natural gas is produced inside the bottle, the cold stabilizes the fermentation and maintains its quality and flavor.