We still remember with immense pride the announcement that marked a turning point for Shaktea Kombucha in 2014. At the time, we were absolutely thrilled to share the news that our company had been one of the twelve fortunate winners of the prestigious Mission Main Street Grants program, a joint initiative by Google and Chase Bank.
The Google Workshop and Growth
In addition to this vital financial support, the grant also included a visit to the Google campus, where the winners participated in an exclusive workshop with Google’s SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) experts. It was there that we met a French SEO expert, Charly, who later helped us significantly improve our website’s online visibility on Google, making it much easier for people to find us. « It was great. It was wonderful to meet the other winners and learn that everyone was going through the same growth challenges, » Meghan recalled. It was an unparalleled opportunity for us to learn from the best, refine our strategies, and find new ways to connect with our audience.
Why We Were Chosen
The selection of winners was based on strict criteria: an impressive business plan, a manageable growth plan, intense passion for our business, a high likelihood of achieving measurable success within two years, and the potential to benefit our local community here in Fairfield, Iowa. We were honored that the judges recognized our commitment to quality, innovation, and the health of our consumers.
Our Digital Actions and Strategy
Thanks to this funding, we were able to implement digital actions that transformed our visibility. We launched an ambitious social media strategy to promote our drinks, sharing behind-the-scenes content, our recipes, and the benefits of kombucha. Our goal was clear: gain online visibility and appear at the top of Google search results so everyone could easily find us.
For this, we had the invaluable help of our friend Charly, who greatly assisted us. We also developed partnerships with health and wellness influencers, organized online contests, and launched a newsletter to stay connected with our growing community. The idea was to build a strong and engaging digital presence.
The Impact of this Funding
This €250,000 grant allowed us to accelerate our growth projects, invest in new brewing technologies, expand our production, and, above all, make our kombucha accessible to an even wider audience. We were then more motivated than ever to continue innovating and sharing our passion for healthy and delicious beverages.
We extend our sincere thanks to Google and Chase for this incredible initiative that supported small businesses and helped them thrive. And of course, a huge thank you to each of you, our amazing community, for your continuous support. It was thanks to you that all of this was possible!
Our Activity Today
Since that prosperous period, our path has evolved. For the moment, Shaktea Kombucha’s operations are currently on hold. We want to thank everyone who supported us throughout this journey.