U.S. Army Captain Develops Sparkling Tea Beverage ChaiElixir

chai elixirOKLAHOMA CITY, OK (November, 2014) — According to Forbes, military veterans are 45% more likely to start their own businesses than civilians; and are found to have a greater five-year success rate than the new ventures of non-veterans.[1] Among these many talented individuals is U.S. Army Captain Wonny Kim, founder and CEO of ChaiElixir™ (www.chaielixir.com), offering “Refreshing Effervescence” in the form of all natural sparkling tea beverages. Kim’s military career began in 2007 and served on active duty for roughly six years. He has since joined the Army Reserves and has redeployed his skills to the business world.

Research concludes that the leadership, teamwork, decision making, problem solving, and organizational skills developed in the military support this trend of successful entrepreneurship among military personnel.[2] With clear goals and a commitment to excellence, Kim has successfully fueled his business venture with ChaiElixir. His most recent active duty military experience was as a Battery Cammander and he is now continuing to serve in the Army Reserves at Fort Totten, New York, while managing and leading ChaiElixir as a civilian. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

“The idea for ChaiElixir came to me during a simple trip to the grocery store,” says Kim. “I wanted a great, all-natural, refreshing, sparkling beverage with a bit of pep, which had yet to be created. So, I decided to make it. My military training has definitely assisted me throughout the business creation process and continues to do so as we are transitioning to market launch for ChaiElixir.”

ChaiElixir is a delicious tea-based beverage with light carbonation for a refreshing, sophisticated experience. Green, white, and oolong teas are blended with natural spices and fruit infusions for a complex yet delicate flavor. With half of the sugar of traditional sodas on the market and a touch of naturally-occurring caffeine and antioxidants, ChaiElixir is a satisfying and healthier soft drink alternative. ChaiElixir can be enjoyed as an uplifting afternoon pick-me-up, and served at holidays and celebratory gatherings.

Yearly, $1.2 trillion is generated by the 2.4 million U.S. businesses owned and operated by military personnel and veterans.[3] In addition to ChaiElixir, notable veteran entrepreneurs include Phyllis Newhouse, CEO of Xtreme Solutions which offers IT solutions and consulting, as well as wounded veteran Diane Halfaker, founder of the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit that works with businesses to provide job opportunities to service-disabled veterans.

While the inspiration for veteran-owned small businesses varies, these ventures are unsurprisingly motivated by dedicated, hard-working individuals. Wonny Kim’s venture in the private sector provides new opportunity and challenges for the inspired entrepreneur, while offering a unique, refreshing, ChaiElixir.

About ChaiElixir:

ChaiElixir, LLC was established in 2012 by Wonny Kim with the purpose of providing an exquisite and quality chai experience in a bottle. With compelling visual packaging, complex yet approachable flavor profiles and just the right amount of carbonation and caffeine, the brand is positioned as a clean, new and all-natural alternative to the Ready To Drink (RTD) market.

For more information about ChaiElixir please visit www.chaielixir.com. For media related inquiries, product samples, or to set up an interview with Wonny Kim, founding CEO of ChaiElixir, please contact Lauren Haines of Christie Communications at (805) 969-3744 or via email atlhaines@christiecomm.com.