Brothers Kyle and Bryon White earned first place at UCF’s Joust New Venture Competition with Yaupon Brothers Tea, securing $12,000 in funding and more than $50,000 in business services to expand their Florida-grown organic tea company. Their venture, which produces tea from the native Yaupon Holly plant, impressed judges with a polished pitch, deep market knowledge, and a mission rooted in local agriculture and sustainability.
Founded in 2012 and USDA Organic certified, Yaupon Brothers Tea has built a growing customer base and supply chain, and the team plans to use competition winnings to bring production back to Florida. The Joust, hosted by the UCF College of Business’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, also recognized EsportsEDU as runner-up, Earthy Creations in third, and Let’s C: Learning English in fourth—highlighting the innovative and diverse ventures emerging from UCF’s entrepreneurial community.
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