Armed with her desire to explore her entrepreneurial ambitions and love for matcha, Kim Ruiz started Daily Matcha in August 2022. This is her success story.

How far can a PHP 5,000 capital get you? For Daily Matcha owner Kim Ruiz, it was the starting point that led her to earn around PHP 20,000 to PHP 30,000 monthly—less than a year after launching her business. 

Kim’s story is proof that a little can go a long way in business—yes, even if you do not have prior experience when it comes to starting one. After working in corporate for several years, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that she wanted to explore her entrepreneurial aspirations and create something that is well and truly hers.

Despite being just 24 years old, she decided to explore these aspirations and discovered that her passion for matcha gave her the opportunity to reach her goals. Here’s how she turned her love for matcha into a successful fast-growing business. 

Making the Switch: From Corporate Employee to Her Own Boss 

Kim really did not start off as an entrepreneur, as she first started out in the corporate world. And while she did find value in her corporate job, the desire to do more and be more fueled her to take the risk and start a business of her own. 

“The combination of passion, independence, willingness to take risks, and desire for learning inspired and motivated me to start a business in my early 20s,” Kim explains. “I believed strongly in what I was doing and felt a sense of purpose in pursuing my entrepreneurial aspirations.” 

Aside from her entrepreneurial ambitions, she also saw starting a business as an opportunity to take control of her professional life and have a sense of autonomy over the work that she does. “The idea of being my own boss and having the flexibility to build something according to my vision was incredibly appealing,” she admits.

“I was open to taking calculated risks, knowing that failure was a potential outcome, but also recognizing the valuable lessons and growth that could come from it.”

Why Matcha? 

Once Kim established her desire and willingness to take a risk and start her own business, she needed to figure out what the heart and soul of her business should be. It ended up being something that she has always been passionate about, and it was none other than matcha. 

“Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder with a rich history and cultural significance that captured my attention and ignited a passion within me,” Kim says. “I was drawn to its distinct flavor, vibrant color, and the mindfulness it represented and how it can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle.” 

“My personal love for matcha and its numerous health benefits made it a natural choice to pursue as a business opportunity,” the 24-year-old adds.

While multiple brands in the market are already offering matcha drinks to consumers, Kim noticed that there is actually “a lack of accessible and high-quality matcha drinks in the market.” 

“While matcha has been gaining popularity, it was primarily available in milk tea shops or cafes where they use local or culinary grade matcha,” she points out. “I saw an opportunity to provide high-quality matcha drinks where I use ceremonial grade matcha that were easily accessible—allowing customers to savor the benefits and enjoyment of matcha conveniently.” 

Seeing a gap in the market for innovative and unique matcha creations, that catered to evolving consumer preferences, Kim used this chance to introduce novel flavor combinations, creative recipes, and inventive applications of matcha. 

She likewise saw a need for a deeper awareness and education on the beverage. “While some consumers were familiar with matcha, many were not fully aware of its origins, production methods, health benefits, and the authentic ways to prepare and enjoy it,” Kim says. 

Because of this, she “recognized an opportunity to educate and engage customers through my business, sharing knowledge about matcha’s cultural significance, its journey from farm to cup, and providing guidance on how to incorporate matcha into a healthy lifestyle.” 

Building Her Business 

With her goals and vision clear and concrete, Kim took the first steps to build her business: Daily Matcha. To start with, she only had PHP 5,000 for her capital—which she got from personal savings. This initial investment allowed her to pay for the startup costs of her business, which included purchasing equipment, securing inventory, setting up an online platform, and covering initial marketing and branding expenses.

To secure additional funding, she approached family and friends who believed in her business idea and were willing to invest in its growth. However, despite the help she received, Kim counts her limited financial sources as one of the struggles of starting her business.

“Starting a business requires upfront investments, and I had to carefully manage my budget and prioritize expenses,” she shares. “I addressed this challenge by bootstrapping—focusing on essential expenses, negotiating favorable terms with suppliers, and seeking cost-effective solutions.” 

Once she secured her funds, Kim went on to invest in much-needed equipment and other necessities that would make starting her business more efficient and convenient. These include the chasen (matcha whisk), chawan (matcha bowl), commercial-grade mixers, packaging materials, branding and marketing materials, ingredients, and a reliable point-of-sale (POS) system. 

Aside from finances, her lack of extensive knowledge of matcha or beverage recipes also proved to be a challenge when she started out. However, thanks to her passion for the product as well as her commitment to her business, Kim found ways to educate herself and arm herself with the necessary skills.

“I embarked on a journey of self-study and extensive research to understand the history, production methods, health benefits, and cultural significance of matcha,” she narrates. “I delved into articles, online resources, and reputable sources to gather information and deepen my knowledge about matcha.”

Kim also dedicated significant time to tasting various matcha products and experimenting with different brewing methods, flavor combinations, and recipe variations. “This hands-on approach allowed me to understand the nuances of matcha flavor profiles, texture, and how it interacts with other ingredients,” the 24-year-old explains.

“Through trial and error, I refined my recipes to create exceptional matcha drinks.”

What Sets Daily Matcha Apart from Competition

Kim successfully launched Daily Matcha in August 2022, and it did not take her long to understand that the food and beverage industry can be highly competitive. To overcome this challenge, she realized the need for differentiation and a unique value proposition. 

“I conducted thorough market research to understand competitors and identify gaps in the market,” the Daily Matcha owner says. “By offering exceptional quality, innovative flavors, and a personalized customer experience, I created a distinct brand that stood out among competitors.” 

In order to differentiate Daily Matcha from her competitors, Kim decided to focus on a handful of factors. The first of which is prioritizing exceptional quality. “I prioritize sourcing the highest quality matcha available. By partnering with reputable suppliers from Japan and ensuring rigorous quality control measures, I can offer a premium product that consistently meets or exceeds customer expectations.” 

She also makes sure to constantly innovate and offer variety to her consumers. “From classic matcha lattes to creative matcha-flavored drinks, I aim to provide a wide range of offerings,” Kim says. “This variety sets me apart and keeps customers engaged and intrigued, making my business a go-to destination for matcha enthusiasts looking for exciting experiences.” 

Kim recognizes that in order to set Daily Matcha apart from competitors, she also has to provide exceptional and engaging customer service. “I focus on delivering a memorable and personalized customer experience,” the 24-year-old explains. “Whether through exceptional customer service, engaging online content, or interactive in-store experiences in the future, I aim to create a sense of community and connection with my customers.” 

“This approach fosters loyalty, word-of-mouth recommendations, and repeat business,” she points out. 

Here Come the Investors 

With Daily Matcha now up and running, Kim considered the consistent positive feedback from customers about the taste, quality, and unique value of her matcha drinks as an indication that her products are resonating with her target market. She likewise saw a steady increase in demand for her matcha drinks, which she believed was a strong indicator that her business plan was working and had the potential for future success.

However, an even stronger indicator that her business had the potential for future success soon arrived in the form of investors. 

“There were also some investors who showed interest in Daily Matcha that indicated they believed in the potential and profitability of my business. Securing investments or funding would not only provide capital for growth but also validate the market opportunity and attractiveness of my business model,” Kim says. 

“These milestones gave me the confidence that my business plan was working, and Daily Matcha had the potential to thrive and achieve long-term sustainability,” she adds. 

What’s Next for Daily Matcha?

With investors knocking on her door, the future looks bright for Kim and Daily Matcha. Moreover, she reveals that Daily Matcha may introduce new flavors, variations, or complementary products to cater to a wider customer base. This, she says, could include exploring different types of matcha-based beverages and snacks.

Aside from this, Kim is also considering opening a physical store for Daily Matcha. “We are considering opening our first physical store and seeking strategic partnerships or collaborations with other businesses in the food and beverage industry. This could help increase brand visibility, attract new customers, and tap into new distribution channels,” she shares. 

With her business now months into its operations, Kim recognizes that it is important that she is able to sustain and grow what she has built for her business. To do so, Daily Matcha will continually focus on building brand awareness through targeted marketing campaigns, social media engagement, influencer partnerships, and other promotional activities, as well as actively seeking customer feedback to drive product development and attract new customers. 

Secrets to Success at a Young Age

Despite the growth that Daily Matcha is now experiencing, starting a business in her early 20s in a highly competitive food and beverage industry has been daunting at times for Kim. Despite this, she believes that starting at a young age actually has several advantages that can contribute to long-term success. 

Kim specifically identifies that “Young entrepreneurs often have abundant energy and enthusiasm to take on challenges, take risks, try unconventional approaches, work long hours, and invest the necessary effort to build their business.” 

“At the same time, being an entrepreneur at a young age provides abundant learning opportunities and allows for a longer time horizon to build and develop the business,” she adds. “We can acquire diverse skills and knowledge across various aspects of business, including finance, marketing, operations, and leadership.” 

She advises anyone in their 20s who is considering starting their own businesses to pursue their passion and choose a business idea that aligns with this as well as their interests. “Starting a business requires dedication and hard work, so being passionate about what you do will help you stay motivated and committed to your venture,” the 24-year-old explains. 

Kim also advises to “start small with a minimum viable product or service to test the market demand and gather feedback.” According to the Daily Matcha owner, “This approach allows you to validate your business idea, make necessary adjustments, and avoid excessive financial risks.” 

Given the growth of e-commerce in the country, she says it is also important to “leverage technology and digital platforms to reach a wider audience, manage your operations efficiently, and optimize your marketing efforts.” 

“Embrace social media, e-commerce, and automation tools to streamline processes and connect with your target market effectively,” Kim ends.