The co-founder of a successful business in Nottingham is set to feature in a new Apprentice-style TV show where young entrepreneurs go head-to-head competing for a lucrative £100k investment for their start up business. But instead of (Alan) Sugar, viewers can expect tea.
Krisi Smith, of Bird & Blend Tea Co. is on the newly released Amazon Prime series Ready Set StartUP! The award-winning tea company specialises in loose leaf teas in imaginative flavours, sold online and from a shop in Victoria Street, Nottingham. Chocolate Digestives, Gingerbread Chai and Earl Grey Creme Tea are amongst the bestsellers.
The six-part series features ten contestants who undertake challenges to test their business skills and acumen. Krisi will feature in episode four, entitled Tea-riffic Tensions, screened on Wednesday, June 7. She appears as a guest judge, alongside Alison Edgar MBE, founder of Intellium Advisory Ying Wang, and Monzo founder Tom Blomfield, to name a few.
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Krisi set up her company at the age of 23 with her business partner Mike Turner from her childhood home in Nuthall. The two, who met whilst studying politics at university, went from packing tea in a back bedroom to devising their own blends and going on to have 160 staff, 14 stores and a thriving international online store.
On the programme Krisi and her team, including Danii who is manager at the Bird & Blend store in Brighton, introduce their tea brand to the contestants and set them an exciting business challenge - to deliver a launch event for the company's new product.
Tension, drama and entertainment then ensue. Krisi sits on the judging panel, giving the contestants valuable feedback and guidance while ultimately voting on who goes home.
Krisi said: "‘It was an honour and super exciting to be asked to be a judge on the show. The other judges are leading business people and entrepreneurs so to be sitting alongside them was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m super proud to be recognised as a successful founder and entrepreneur that has been asked to help inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
"At the London premiere of the show, the consensus was that our episode is a fantastic one to watch with spirits and tensions high, creating a drama-heavy, powerful and entertaining show."
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