Emma Wilson
Ryze Mushroom Coffee is owned by Harvard graduates Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain. The idea for the company began when the founders, who were dependent on multiple cups of coffee a day during their undergraduate years, wanted to create a morning beverage that would provide the energy of coffee without the negative side effects like anxiety, jitters, energy crashes, and digestive issues. After a year of experimentation, they launched Ryze Mushroom Coffee in March 2020 with a simple mission: fuel the body and focus the mind one cup at a time. The company has since become a multimillion-dollar success, with its products going viral on TikTok and strong sales through Amazon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Founders | 2 |
| Names of Founders | Andrée Werner, Rashad Hossain |
| Founder's University | Harvard |
| Year of Product Launch | 2020 |
| Product | Mushroom Coffee |
| Product Goal | To create a morning beverage that provides the energy of coffee without negative side effects |
| Caffeine Content | 48mg |
| Ingredients | Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and King Trumpet |
| Sales Channel | TikTok Shop, Amazon |
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What You'll Learn
- Harvard graduates Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain are the founders of Ryze
- The idea for the coffee came about when the founders were struggling with coffee's negative side effects
- Ryze Mushroom Coffee launched in March 2020
- The product contains six adaptogenic mushrooms, each with unique benefits
- The brand's success is partly due to leveraging user-generated content on TikTok
Harvard graduates Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain are the founders of Ryze
After graduation, Werner and Hossain pursued separate paths. Hossain notably worked in marketing at Kraft Heinz on major coffee brands, while Werner studied Applied Mathematics and later attended Juilliard. However, they continued to struggle with the downsides of traditional coffee. During long phone calls in 2019, they discovered the potential of functional mushrooms as coffee additives, which led them to experiment with blending six medicinal mushrooms (Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and King Trumpet) with organic Arabic coffee.
Their goal was to create a morning beverage that provided the energy of coffee without the negative side effects. By March 2020, they had perfected the formula and officially launched Ryze Mushroom Coffee. The brand quickly gained traction, especially on TikTok, where it went viral as "the viral coffee." Ryze's strategic use of digital channels, community building, and subscription models allowed them to disrupt the established wellness beverage market and achieve explosive growth.
The success of Ryze can be attributed to its carefully crafted product that balances efficacy, taste, and convenience. Ryze's mushroom coffee offers the familiar coffee experience while softening the negative side effects. With 48mg of caffeine, about half that of regular coffee, Ryze provides energy without the jitters associated with traditional coffee. The six adaptogenic mushrooms each contribute unique benefits, such as Lion's Mane for focus and Reishi for immune support.
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The idea for the coffee came about when the founders were struggling with coffee's negative side effects
Ryze Mushroom Coffee was founded by Harvard graduates Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain. The idea for the coffee brand came about when the founders were struggling with the negative side effects of traditional coffee, such as anxiety, jitters, energy crashes, and digestive issues. During their undergraduate years at Harvard, Werner and Hossain, like many college students, relied on multiple cups of coffee to get through demanding days. However, they felt that this was taking a toll on their health and well-being.
After graduating from Harvard, the two founders pursued different paths. Rashad worked in marketing at Kraft Heinz on major coffee brands, while Andrée studied Applied Mathematics and later attended Juilliard. Despite their separate paths, they continued to struggle with the negative side effects of coffee. During long phone calls in 2019, they discovered the potential of functional mushrooms as coffee additives. This led to a year of experimentation, blending six medicinal mushrooms (Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and King Trumpet) with organic Arabic coffee.
The goal of Ryze Mushroom Coffee is to provide a morning beverage that offers the energy of coffee without the negative side effects. The final product, launched in March 2020, contains 48mg of caffeine, about half that of regular coffee, striking a balance between providing energy and avoiding the jitters. Each of the six adaptogenic mushrooms in the blend offers unique benefits, such as Lion's Mane for focus and Reishi for immune support. Ryze also maintained the familiar taste of coffee while softening its downsides.
The brand's unique value proposition and effective use of digital marketing channels, community building, and subscription models helped it achieve explosive growth in the crowded wellness beverage space. Ryze Mushroom Coffee's products went viral on TikTok, with many creators embracing the "mushroom coffee" trend and referring to the brand as "the viral coffee." This strong online presence translated to robust sales through TikTok's eCommerce features, allowing users to purchase directly through videos.
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Ryze Mushroom Coffee launched in March 2020
Ryze Superfoods, a Boston-based startup, launched its 8-ingredient mushroom coffee in March 2020. The company was founded by two Harvard graduates, Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain, who aimed to create a product that would make people feel amazing every day. The idea for Ryze was sparked during the founders' time as undergraduates at Harvard.
Ryze Mushroom Coffee is made with a blend of six organic medicinal mushrooms, including Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and King Trumpet. These mushrooms are combined with organic Arabica coffee, organic MCT oil, and organic coconut milk to create a smooth and creamy taste. The instant powder format requires no brewing, making it a convenient option for busy mornings.
The product is organic, vegan, keto-friendly, and free from fillers, appealing to health-conscious consumers with various dietary preferences. With just 48mg of caffeine per serving, Ryze offers less than half the caffeine of a traditional cup of coffee, providing a natural boost to focus and energy without the negative side effects of anxiety, jitters, and poor sleep associated with high caffeine intake.
Ryze initially launched exclusively through its Shopify store, allowing the company to maintain control over the customer experience and brand messaging. The website became its flagship sales channel, offering strong subscription incentives such as 20% off for subscribers. By 2024, the website was attracting around 2.1 million monthly visits, reflecting the brand's marketing prowess and successful utilisation of emerging platforms like TikTok Shop.
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The product contains six adaptogenic mushrooms, each with unique benefits
Ryze Mushroom Coffee is owned by co-founders Rashad Hossain and Andrée. The company was started because the founders wanted to feel amazing every single day. They wanted to wake up excited, purposeful, and ready to tackle whatever life throws at them.
Ryze Mushroom Coffee contains six adaptogenic mushrooms, each with unique benefits. The six adaptogenic mushrooms are Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and King Trumpet. Each mushroom in the blend was carefully selected for its distinct health benefits, addressing both physical and mental well-being.
Cordyceps, also known as "the mushroom of immortality," has been used for thousands of years in Eastern medicine. It increases oxygenation to sustain energy and support rapid recovery. Cordyceps also helps to relieve stress, improve mood, and support peaceful sleep.
Lion's Mane has been used extensively by Buddhist monks to enhance focus and purpose in their studies and meditation. It provides calm, yet laser-sharp focus.
Shiitake is commonly used in cuisine but is also valued in Eastern medicine as a medicinal supplement. It promotes metabolic function and supports the immune system.
Reishi is known for its ability to relieve stress and keep you feeling calm.
Turkey Tail and King Trumpet mushrooms also provide additional health benefits, supporting overall health and well-being.
The combination of these six adaptogenic mushrooms in Ryze Mushroom Coffee delivers calmer energy, sharper focus, and immune support for a balanced body and clear mind.
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The brand's success is partly due to leveraging user-generated content on TikTok
Harvard graduates Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain are the founders of Ryze Superfoods, a mushroom-infused coffee brand. The idea for the brand was sparked during their undergraduate years at Harvard, where they, like many college students, relied on multiple cups of coffee to get through demanding days. After graduation, Rashad worked in marketing at Kraft Heinz, and the pair continued to struggle with the negative side effects of traditional coffee, such as anxiety, jitters, energy crashes, and digestive issues.
In 2019, they discovered the potential of functional mushrooms as coffee additives during a conversation about health hacks. This led to a year of experimentation with different types of mushrooms, eventually blending six medicinal mushrooms (Cordyceps, Lion's Mane, Reishi, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, and King Trumpet) with organic Arabic to create a beverage that provides the energy of coffee without the negative side effects.
Ryze's TikTok success can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the platform's algorithm likely played a significant role in amplifying the content. TikTok's algorithm is designed to prioritize engaging content, and the unique and intriguing nature of mushroom coffee likely captured the attention of users, leading to higher engagement and, consequently, greater visibility on the platform. Additionally, the use of customer testimonials and before-and-after stories is a powerful form of social proof, leveraging the influence of peers to drive interest and sales. This type of content creates a sense of trust and authenticity, as potential customers see real people sharing their genuine experiences with the product. The visual nature of TikTok, with its emphasis on short, engaging videos, also lends itself well to before-and-after content, making it more impactful and shareable.
Furthermore, Ryze's strategic expansion to Amazon in late 2024, following their success with direct sales, allowed them to reach a broader audience. By launching an official Amazon storefront with Prime fulfillment, they were able to capture buyers specifically searching for mushroom coffee on Amazon while maintaining consistent pricing with their DTC site. This omnichannel approach to sales further contributed to the brand's success and provided customers with additional convenience and accessibility.
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Frequently asked questions
Ryze Mushroom Coffee is owned by Harvard graduates Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain.
The founders of Ryze wanted to create a morning beverage that would provide the energy of coffee without the negative side effects like anxiety, jitters, energy crashes, and digestive issues.
Ryze Mushroom Coffee has 48mg of caffeine, which is about half that of regular coffee, thus striking a balance between providing energy without the jitters. The six adaptogenic mushrooms in the blend also contribute unique benefits—Lion's Mane for focus, Reishi for immune support, and so on.
Ryze Mushroom Coffee gained popularity by capitalizing on the emerging TikTok Shop platform. Their products went viral as many creators embraced the "mushroom coffee" trend, referring to Ryze as "the viral coffee." This organic buzz translated to strong sales through TikTok's eCommerce features.
