NEW YORK — Nguyen Coffee Supply, a specialty Vietnamese coffee company, has raised $2.6 million in seed funding to support expanded distribution and product innovation.
Founder Sahra Nguyen launched the business to increase economic advancement for Vietnamese coffee farmers while creating a diverse and inclusive coffee culture in the United States. Nguyen Coffee Supply offers a range of single-origin robusta beans sustainably grown in Vietnam and fresh roasted in Brooklyn, NY. The products are available on the brand’s website and in numerous restaurants and cafes in cities, including New York, Seattle and Kansas City.
“We’re excited to further our mission to expand the awareness and enjoyment of robusta coffee,” Ms. Nguyen said. “As part of that mission, we’re committed to elevating the undervalued but significant coffee industry in Vietnam — the world’s largest producer of robusta. As a first-generation Vietnamese American, building a brand rooted in cultural diversity and inclusion is a major part of my business plan.”
Investors in the seed round include Wen Zhou, Hyphen Capital, Charles Huang, Aaron Samuels, John Resnick, Carol Lim, Michael Karnjanaprakorn, Johnnie Yu, Akuna Capital, Lisa Lee, Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Aerica Shimizu Banks, Michelle MiJung Banks, Theresa Vu, Julia Gouw, Bao Nguyen, GFR Fund, Gutter Capital and Gaingels.
“Having been a founder myself, I understand the kind of passion and resilience needed to grow a brand,” said Carol Lim, co-founder and co-creative director of Opening Ceremony and investor in Nguyen Coffee Supply. “Within the first five minutes of listening to Sahra, I knew that she has what it takes to not only build a business — but also a community to shape the future of coffee together.”
