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Your support for Yaupon Brothers American Tea has helped us bring America’s only native caffeinated plant back into the spotlight and build a regenerative agricultural supply chain around it.Because of this community, we have: Planted hundreds of thousands of yaupon trees Built a vertically integrated farm-to-CPG brand Secured placement in major national retailers Expanded a growing network of partner farmers Helped reintroduce a botanical that ...","published_at":"2026-03-16T16:45:03Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/276636","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/276636"},{"id":259566,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:259566","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Our New Website is Live + Wholesale Portal Now Open 🚀","preview":"Hey Investors,After months of work behind the scenes, we’re excited to share that our newly redesigned website is officially live:👉 https://yauponbrothers.comThis isn’t just a visual refresh — it’s a major infrastructure upgrade for Yaupon Brothers.What’s NewOptimized User Experience Faster load times Cleaner navigation Improved storytelling around Yaupon as America’s only native caffeine source Clearer calls-to-action for retail customers The site now better communicates who we are: a vertic...","published_at":"2026-02-16T02:49:32Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/259566","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/259566"},{"id":247931,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:247931","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Yaupon Brothers Annual Update!","preview":"Dear Friends \u0026 Supporters,As we close out 2025, I want to share a clear and candid update on Yaupon Brothers—where we are today, what this past year was intentionally designed to accomplish, and why we believe the next phase of growth is primarily a function of capital availability, not market demand.This journey has never been abstract or theoretical. It has been hands-on, operational, and deeply human. What we’ve built did not happen on its own—and it certainly wasn’t achieved by capital al...","published_at":"2026-01-24T03:35:57Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/247931","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/247931"},{"id":240090,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:240090","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"New year. New look. Bigger mission.","preview":"As we step into the new year, we’re proud to share a major milestone for Yaupon Brothers American Tea:✨ Our refreshed packaging is officially live🌿 Now launched in ALL Florida locations of Whole Foods Market.From the fields to the shelf, this moment represents more than a redesign—it reflects a decade-long commitment to regenerative agriculture, domestic supply chains, and building something truly American from the ground up.We’re also excited to celebrate our partnership with Potlikker Capit...","published_at":"2026-01-06T16:21:46Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/240090","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/240090"},{"id":219443,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:219443","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Yaupon Brothers Takes Center Stage at Garden \u0026amp; Gun Winter Market, Charleston — Nov 20–23","preview":"Hello Valued Investors,We’re excited to share some incredible news: Yaupon Brothers American Tea will be featured at the 2025 Garden \u0026 Gun Winter Market, taking place November 20–23 in Charleston, South Carolina.About the EventHosted by Garden \u0026 Gun—one of the South’s most influential lifestyle and culture publications—the Winter Market is an exclusive, highly curated showcase of Southern makers, artisans, and premium brands. It attracts thousands of attendees, including retailers, chefs, pre...","published_at":"2025-11-11T13:20:26Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/219443","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/219443"},{"id":185695,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:185695","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Form C Filed 🎉 Next Step: Authorize Your Investment","preview":"Hi everyone,Big news — our Form C is officially filed with the SEC, and Wefunder should have prompted you to authorize your investment in Yaupon Brothers. We know many of you have done this already, and we’re incredibly grateful for your support and excited for what’s ahead as we grow America’s only native caffeinated tea, regeneratively grown right here in Florida. 🌿What this meansYour original commitment was a pledge. To make it count, please authorize it now so funds can be processed. If y...","published_at":"2025-09-15T18:38:16Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/185695","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/185695"},{"id":185046,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:185046","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Weekly Update: Major Wins with Misfits Market \u0026amp; HomeGoods 🚀","preview":"Dear Yaupon Family,We have two big pieces of news to share this week — both signaling major traction as we continue scaling Yaupon Brothers:🛒 Launching with Misfits MarketWe’re thrilled to announce that Yaupon Brothers will soon launch on Misfits Market, the online grocery platform with millions of sustainability-minded customers. This partnership puts our regenerative, American-grown tea directly in front of one of the fastest-growing communities of conscious shoppers in the U.S.🏬 1,300 Home...","published_at":"2025-08-25T15:14:55Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/185046","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/185046"},{"id":184936,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:184936","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Last Chance to Vote – Help Us Get to SXSW with Potlikker Capital!","preview":"Dear Yaupon Family,We need your help one more time! 🌿As you know, Yaupon Brothers has teamed up with Potlikker Capital for a proposed panel at SXSW 2026, where we’ll share how regenerative agriculture and culturally rooted capital can transform food systems. This is a massive opportunity to shine a national spotlight on Yaupon, our mission, and our momentum.✅ Voting closes on August 24th – and every single vote counts.👉 Please take a moment today to cast your vote for our panel here: Vote for...","published_at":"2025-08-20T20:08:11Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/184936","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/184936"},{"id":184729,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:184729","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Yaupon Brothers Weekly Investor Update – Uncle Pappy’s Edition","preview":"Dear Investors \u0026 Supporters,I hope you’re all doing great—here’s the latest from Team Yaupon, uniting bold flavors with meaningful impact.1. Spotlight: Uncle Pappy’s Florida Chai CollaborationWe launched Uncle Pappy’s Florida Chai—a bold, spicy twist on our signature Florida Chai, infused with “gator‑country soul” and wild charm from Uncle Pappy himself. It’s the same smooth heat and clean energy, now with a Florida Man kind of flair that’s flying off the digital shelves.Even better: 5% of al...","published_at":"2025-08-14T01:55:14Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/184729","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/184729"},{"id":184562,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:184562","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Correct SXSW Link","preview":"Hi all, I apologize that the voting link I recently sent out for our SXSW panel was broken. The correct link is here.Also here: https://participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sxsw26/community-voting-sxsw/page/community-voting/session/1753126106491001S1OUVoting is simple. Just click on the heart icon, create a free account, and you're good to go!We appreciate your continued support!Kindly, Bryon","published_at":"2025-08-08T15:11:21Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/184562","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/184562"},{"id":184459,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:184459","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Help Us Get to SXSW! 💥 One Click = Big Impact","preview":"Hey Yaupon Investors and Supporters,We’ve got exciting news to share — Yaupon Brothers is in the running to speak at SXSW 2026! Our proposed panel, in collaboration with Potlikker Capital, will explore how indigenous, regenerative crops like Yaupon holly can disrupt the beverage industry and redefine sustainability in CPG.This is a HUGE opportunity to bring national attention to Yaupon and our mission — and we need your help to get there.✅ Here's how you can help (it takes 30 seconds):Click t...","published_at":"2025-08-06T01:22:35Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/184459","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/184459"},{"id":184363,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:184363","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"📰 Investor Update: Yaupon Brothers Featured in DTN “Tea Time”","preview":"Date: August 4, 2025Dear Yaupon Community,We’re excited to share that DTN’s Progressive Farmer published an in-depth profile on July 31, 2025, highlighting Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co. and our regenerative approach to reviving America's indigenous caffeinated tea — yaupon holly 🚜 What DTN Covered:250,000+ cultivated plants planted across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana over the past two years.Yaupon: North America’s only native caffeinated plant, propagated via tissue culture...","published_at":"2025-08-04T18:09:30Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/184363","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/184363"},{"id":184233,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:184233","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"📣 Investor Update: A Breakthrough Week for Yaupon!","preview":"Hey Yaupon supporters,We’ve had an absolutely thrilling week here at Yaupon Brothers, and we wanted to bring you up to speed on everything that’s been brewing (pun intended):📰 We’re in The Washington Post!Yaupon was featured in a major piece highlighting our role as America’s only native source of caffeine — and a tariff-proof alternative to imported teas and coffees. This spotlight showcases the incredible opportunity ahead of us in a changing global landscape. 🔗 Read the Washington Post art...","published_at":"2025-07-30T16:17:44Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/184233","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/184233"},{"id":183987,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:183987","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"We’re on NPR! And in The Guardian. And The Washington Post. 🌿📣","preview":"Hey Yaupon Family,We’re riding a serious wave of national attention — and it's all thanks to the incredible support from YOU, our community of investors and believers.📻 Yaupon on NPR!This past weekend, Yaupon was featured on NPR’s \"Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!\", one of America’s most beloved radio shows. 👉 Listen to the episode here (we’re part of the “Bluff the Listener” segment — and yes, we stumped the panel!)🗞️ Also featured in...The Washington Post: “Why Yaupon Tea Is a Tariff-Proof Caffei...","published_at":"2025-07-22T16:37:36Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/183987","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/183987"},{"id":183774,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:183774","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Help us get the word out about Yaupon Brothers' communiTea round!","preview":"Help us get the word out about Yaupon Brothers' communiTea round!","published_at":"2025-07-15T17:08:23Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/183774","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/183774"},{"id":183767,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:183767","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Yaupon Brothers was just featured in The Washington Post! 🎉","preview":"Yaupon Brothers was just featured in The Washington Post! 🎉","published_at":"2025-07-15T15:01:34Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/183767","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/183767"},{"id":183074,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:183074","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"📈 Momentum Update: Featured in Martha Stewart!","preview":"📈 Momentum Update: Featured in Martha Stewart!What happened: On June 18, 2025, Martha Stewart ran a feature titled “What Is Yaupon—and Why It May Become Your Next Morning Brew”—spotlighting Yaupon Brothers American Tea and calling it “homegrown,” “a delightful cup of tea that's boosted by a gentle buzz,” and America’s only native caffeinated plant marthastewart.com.What it means:Brand credibility \u0026 visibility Being highlighted by Martha Stewart instantly elevates our brand — especially among ...","published_at":"2025-06-18T18:21:25Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/183074","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/183074"},{"id":182567,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:182567","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Investment Deal Closed with Global Leader in Yerba Mate Production","preview":"Dear Yaupon Brothers Investors,We’re thrilled to share a major milestone in our journey: Yaupon Brothers has officially closed an investment agreement with the family behind Las Marías, the global leader in Yerba Mate production.Las Marías is widely recognized as a pioneer and innovator in the natural beverage space, and their decades of experience in sustainable cultivation, processing, and global distribution are unmatched. Over the past year, this strategic group has already contributed in...","published_at":"2025-05-27T01:25:20Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/182567","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/182567"},{"id":182122,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:182122","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"🌿 Yaupon Brothers Opens Crowdfunding Round to Community Investors","preview":"We're excited to share that Yaupon Brothers American Tea is opening a portion of our remaining priced equity round to the public via crowdfunding. This initiative allows our customers, supporters, and community members to invest in our mission on the same terms as our institutional investors.​Yaupon Brothers is leading the resurgence of Yaupon, America's only native caffeinated plant, offering sustainable, domestically grown tea. With our products now available in over 1,000 stores nationwide...","published_at":"2025-05-04T18:06:18Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/182122","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/182122"},{"id":181238,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:181238","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Join us for our Grand Opening!","preview":"Yaupon Brothers is now located at Eagle's Nest Farms in Crescent City, FL. Founded by LeVant DeWolf in 1900, Eagle's Nest began as an organic citrus grove and is now Florida's oldest organic farm. Since October of 2023, we've been meticulously restoring the historic packing house and farm house, and we're finally ready to share it with you!In addition to housing our tea operations, Eagle's Nest is also a world-class wedding and event venue that can accommodate up to 200 seated guests. We have...","published_at":"2025-04-08T20:51:44Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/181238","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/181238"},{"id":180800,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:180800","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Could Yaupon Be Florida’s Next Big Crop?","preview":"Our farm and HQ, Eagle's Nest, was an organic citrus grove for over 120 years. HLB ended citrus production in 2019, and we planted 3,000 Yaupon trees on the property in 2024Florida’s Citrus Industry Is in CrisisFor over a century, citrus has been the backbone of Florida agriculture. But today, the industry is facing an existential crisis. Diseases like citrus greening have devastated groves, reducing yields and forcing many farmers to abandon citrus altogether. Climate change, hurricanes, and...","published_at":"2025-03-27T00:40:47Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/180800","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/180800"},{"id":173931,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:173931","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"We have a new farm!","preview":"To all the Friends and Supporters of YB:Over the past two years, we have called our factory in Edgewater, FL home. But, due to circumstances beyond our control, we moved from that location on April 1st, 2024. This is not a sad post.\u0026nbsp;Conversely, this somewhat abrupt situation opened up new and exciting opportunities for us. The White Family - original founders of Yaupon Brothers - have purchased Florida's oldest organic farm, Eagle's Nest, in Crescent City. The farm is a former citrus gro...","published_at":"2024-06-10T19:29:28Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/173931","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/173931"},{"id":167488,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:167488","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Round Closing Tomorrow!","preview":"Hello all, With our round officially closing tomorrow, I wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to all of our investors, supporters, friends, and family. You all make the dream work! If you've confirmed your investment already, thank you so much and welcome to the Family! If you have yet to confirm your investment, please do so as soon as possible. All unconfirmed investments will be canceled by early next week, and we don't want you to miss out on this opportuniTea! We look...","published_at":"2023-09-30T00:36:42Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/167488","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/167488"},{"id":166678,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166678","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Investment Seminar 08/30","preview":"Hello everyone!We will be hosting another investor seminar on August 30th, at 4pm EDT. If you have questions about investing in us, or just want to learn more, it's a great event to join. We will give an overview of the company, and have some time for Q\u0026A...everyone is welcome!We hope to see you there!Here's the link: Investment SeminarWednesday, August 30 · 12:30 – 1:30pmTime zone: America/New_YorkGoogle Meet joining infoVideo call link: https://meet.google.com/nuw-kiwx-zixOr dial: ‪(US) +1 ...","published_at":"2023-08-25T16:25:00Z","author_name":"Bryon White","url":"/feed/166678","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166678"}],"q_and_a":[{"id":246450,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:246450","question":"What are your net margins? What's your plan to market and scale. what is your distribution plan and marketing spend and plan?. How are you all truly different? How do you all stand you stand out?..Do you have a plan to bring down operational cost some to save some money? How do you plan to increase your margins. What other areas of interest might you expand. What is your go to back up plan or defcon 5 worst case scenario... supply chain disruptions are a real issue so we need to seriously have multiple plans in place .. thinking of investing..just had a few questions..Looks too be a quality product very good. God bless","author_name":"Timothy Huckaby","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-05-11T05:14:09Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-246450","answers":[{"id":246479,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:246479","answer":"Hi Timothy! Thanks for your questions. Several of your inquiries are addressed in this pitch deck:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1l467jk1pQZcQslW2jMx1psqGKy5JJg2Lb-I8oYX1i7o/edit?usp=sharing Also, baked into that cake are several market sensitivities which span from best case to worst case scenario. Supply is less of a problem for us than for other tea companies simply because we are vertically-integrated, and grow our own raw material right here in the USA. That is also what makes us different. Conventional tea is made from the tea plant, (Camellia sinensis), which is native to Asia and doesn't grow well in the USA, so we end up importing it in huge quantities. Our tea is made from Yaupon, which is native to the USA and is our only native caffeine source. It's American Tea! I hope that helps answer your questions, but if not please feel free to reach out or we can also talk 1:1. Thanks so much for your interest! Kindly, Bryon","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-05-11T14:58:47Z"}]},{"id":241562,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:241562","question":"Hi there! First -love the tea! I have tried 2 of them and I must have a cup each day. I have a few questions before I invest. I will apologize for my lack-of -knowledge but want to have a clear understanding. Did this company go by another name previously? If so, if the name changes again, does the investment transfer? I have looked in Whole Foods but I have not found the tea there/on their website; is the tea coming in the future? I sincerely appreciate the thoughtfulness for the environment, for thinking of the tea drinkers, and our health. ❤️","author_name":"C Zee","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-04-04T02:52:15Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-241562","answers":[{"id":241855,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:241855","answer":"Hi C Zee - glad you love the tea! The company name is Ilex Organics LLC. Yaupon Brothers is our flagship brand. The investment would be in Ilex Organics, so that covers everything the company owns. There are pretty strict regulations in place from the SEC that require lots of disclosures to you, so you know what you’re investing in. We haven’t changed names, but if we did, it wouldn’t impact your investment. We are currently on in Florida Whole Foods. If you don’t see us in your local WFM, please request us from their customer service desk. It really helps us out! I hope this helps answer your questions but please don’t hesitate to ask additional ones. Thank you!","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-04-06T11:37:46Z"}]},{"id":329836,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:329836","question":"Hi Bryon, Thank you for the e-mail response in which I received today. I am excited for this growth journey.","author_name":"bugg logg","votes":1,"created_at":"2026-04-02T16:53:46Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-329836","answers":[]},{"id":328706,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:328706","question":"Hi Bryon, Just wanted to let you know that I sent an e-mail to you on March 21, 2026. The e-mail address I have is : bryon@yauponbrothers.com. Not sure if you received it. Please advise. Thank you.","author_name":"bugg logg","votes":1,"created_at":"2026-03-23T20:07:17Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-328706","answers":[{"id":328822,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:328822","answer":"Sorry if I missed that...its the correct email address. Would you mind resending? I don't see your email in my inbox.","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-03-24T16:47:30Z"}]},{"id":312913,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:312913","question":"how many calories in a cup","author_name":"Ally Wang","votes":1,"created_at":"2025-08-10T17:36:37Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-312913","answers":[{"id":313021,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:313021","answer":"Hi Ally - There are no calories unless you add something like a sweetener or cream, etc.","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-08-12T15:05:02Z"}]},{"id":311897,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:311897","question":"Dear CEO Bryon White and the Yaupon Bros Team: I’m a millennial from the U.S. Southeast, and I’m interested in becoming an investor. For a little background, in the past month, a series of coincidences led me to read a book about the Mississippian “mound building” culture. In the book, there was mention of the “Black Drink” ceremony, Yaupon Holly, the plant’s benefits, and the history of the beverage (including the Latin name). After reading that book, I thought starting a U.S.-based yaupon tea company could carve a strong niche. Or to invest in an established one could prove beneficial. Lo and behold, here you are on WeFunder. A coincidence among coincidences. Acknowledging this, I have three questions: 1. First, the Financials: I read the investor deck and company projections. I also found a previous Form C available on the SEC website. However, do you have an updated copy of financial statements available? --- 2. Second, the Leadership: In researching the company, I noticed one of the original co-founders, Mark Steele, is no longer associated with Yaupon Bros. What caused the split? --- 3. Third, Company Culture and ESG: I feel compelled to highlight this topic, because as you know, several corporations (including some in the beverage industry) have drawn lines and endorsed LGBTQ+ causes and legislation. In researching the company, the Yaupon Brothers’ Facebook page has the LGBTQ+ Pride Flag color scheme and there’s mention of ties to the Clinton Foundation elsewhere. Unfortunately, case studies show company endorsements like these not only contradict a holistic philosophy of diversity and inclusion, but they also disenfranchise various stakeholders – some of whom are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Potentially bringing lawsuits. Consequently, I think there are better ways to engage the social realm of ESG, to improve communities, and to promote business. Examples might include the Dutch Bros Foundation’s “Dutch Luv” program, the McDonald’s “Ronald McDonald House Charities,” and Wendy’s “Dave Thomas Foundation.” After all, examples of corporate social good like these have shown long-term benefits. That is to say, in contrast to engaging in culture wars and/or taking a heavy-handed approach to specific special interest groups, I think the best ESG programs offer flexibility for individual empowerment and community choice. This flexibility creates value for both customers and employees alike, is capable of navigating personal beliefs, and is a better direction toward social sustainability. Because True empowerment not only advances wealth creation, but it also champions good conscience for all. Therefore, my question: as Yaupon Brothers American Tea Company (Ilex Organics) continues to grow into a national brand (with potential international aspirations), will narrow political allegiances and engaging in culture wars remain a company norm in the future? --- Ultimately, I am writing to you as a potential shareholder with a long-term horizon, and if managed properly, I think Yaupon Brothers has an opportunity to be a legacy investment. Thank you, MDH","author_name":"Michael Helm","votes":1,"created_at":"2025-07-25T15:26:42Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-311897","answers":[{"id":312261,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:312261","answer":"Dear Mr. Helm, Thank you for your thoughtful message — and for sharing the serendipitous path that led you to us. The cultural legacy of Yaupon, from its ceremonial use in Mississippian societies to its modern relevance as a regenerative crop, is a powerful story we are proud to be stewarding. We’re thrilled it resonated with you. Let me address your questions in turn: 1. Financial Statements: We’re happy to share updated financial information. Our most recent revenue figures, pro forma forecasts, and capital structure are available in our WeFunder data room. If you’d like additional details or prefer to review with us directly, I’d be glad to schedule a call. 2. Leadership and Founding History: Yaupon Brothers was founded in 2012 by myself and my family. Mark Steele joined the company in 2015 and contributed to the business during an important phase of growth. He is no longer involved, having moved on to other ventures. There was no conflict — just a natural evolution as roles changed and the company matured. 3. Company Culture, ESG, and Values Alignment: We appreciate your perspective on ESG and your thoughtful concerns. At Yaupon Brothers, our mission is centered on regeneration — of land, opportunity, and community. Our focus is on building a new agricultural economy rooted in native plants, sustainable practices, and economic inclusion. This includes creating viable income streams for farmers in historically underserved rural communities, and honoring the Indigenous cultural origins of Yaupon itself. We occasionally acknowledge causes that reflect our commitment to human dignity and equity. However, we do not affiliate ourselves with political movements or engage in “culture war” discourse. Our brand belongs to everyone — and we believe a strong, values-driven company can be inclusive without being divisive. We also admire community-based programs like Dutch Luv and the Dave Thomas Foundation — and aspire to build a giving model that reflects the same commitment to long-term positive impact. For us, ESG is not about signaling, it’s about systems change — in agriculture, economic access, and land stewardship. We would be honored to welcome you as a shareholder and long-term partner. If you’d like to discuss further, I’d be happy to connect personally. Thank you again for your interest in Yaupon Brothers and your thoughtful engagement. With appreciation, Bryon White Co-Founder \u0026amp; CEO 📩 bryon@yauponbrothers.com 🌿 www.yauponbrothers.com","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":1,"created_at":"2025-08-01T03:04:08Z"}]},{"id":311869,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:311869","question":"Hi, I'm interested in learning more about investment opportunities with your company. I see the potential for significant growth and expansion nationwide and globally. Could you please share information on the benefits and rewards that investors can expect, such as dividends, equity, or other perks? Additionally, I'd like to know how often you plan to update investors on the company's progress and what methods you'll use to follow up with investors regarding the company's performance and growth.","author_name":"Edgar Rivera","votes":1,"created_at":"2025-07-24T22:58:19Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-311869","answers":[{"id":312262,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:312262","answer":"Hi Edgar, Thanks so much for reaching out and for your interest in Yaupon Brothers! We’re excited to connect with potential investors who share our vision of building a uniquely American, regenerative tea brand with national and global potential. To your questions: Investor Benefits \u0026amp; Structure We’re currently raising capital through a priced preferred equity round at a $5.65M pre-money valuation. Investors in this round receive equity ownership in Yaupon Brothers American Tea, with all rights and preferences outlined in our WeFunder deal terms. We do not currently offer dividends, as all profits are reinvested into growth, but equity holders benefit from long-term value creation through a future acquisition or liquidity event. We also offer tiered investor perks through WeFunder, including limited-edition merchandise, product bundles, early access to new releases, and exclusive behind-the-scenes updates. Investor Communications \u0026amp; Governance Transparency and accountability are core to how we operate. Investors receive: Quarterly updates on progress, wins, challenges, and financials An Annual Year-End Report summarizing the company’s performance and strategy Access to attend board meetings, which occur quarterly and additionally as needed during exigent circumstances Periodic Q\u0026amp;A sessions and opportunities to engage directly with leadership We see every investor as a true partner in our growth, and we’re committed to building long-term trust through open communication. If you'd like to review more details or set up a time to talk, I’d be happy to connect. You can also view our live campaign here: 🔗 wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers Thanks again for your interest — we’d love to welcome you to the Yaupon movement. Warm regards, Bryon White Co-Founder \u0026amp; CEO 📩 bryon@yauponbrothers.com 🌿 www.yauponbrothers.com","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-08-01T03:07:24Z"}]},{"id":308054,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:308054","question":"How long before you can harvest after initially planting a Yaupon plant? You show a lot of projected growth but will you have the plants/land to sustain all that when the time comes? Love your teas!","author_name":"Dana Dement","votes":1,"created_at":"2025-05-13T16:49:50Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-308054","answers":[{"id":308093,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:308093","answer":"Hi Dana, great question. It takes roughly three years from planting to harvest. We have already planted around 300,000 trees, and some of those are already at or near maturity. So, we feel confident our supply chain will be ready to accommodate the projected growth.","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-05-14T16:56:21Z"}]},{"id":260642,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:260642","question":"Hello, I was wondering if you could give me some insight into your per unit costs and gross margins. For 2022 your net margins were 59%, but in the google slide that include your financial projections, you estimate that your gross margin will be around 30%. I was curious why there may be such a big shift and what your actual per unit costs are or what you expect them to be going forward. Thank you!","author_name":"Jack Wangensteen","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-08-30T15:20:07Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-260642","answers":[{"id":263036,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:263036","answer":"Hi Jack, my apologies for the delay in responding! If you will kindly share your email with me at bryon@yauponbrothers.com, I can send you an updated proforma, but to answer your question, we have updated the financial projections to reflect an estimated profit margin between 50-58% over the next three years, considering some variable costs associated to earning new sales channels.","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-09-22T16:14:55Z"}]},{"id":249381,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:249381","question":"With the Regulation of Crowdfunding deals the amount we can invest per year across this platform will hit the limit, so We were wondering if you have provisions to accept alternative outright financing. With that, we can cover over 60% of your target raise. Kindly reach out to me at HornbeckInvestment@protonmail.com so we discuss further.","author_name":"Hornbeck George","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-06-05T23:52:02Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-249381","answers":[]},{"id":247695,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:247695","question":"Hi, a question on the below. Does the company we are investing in here own this real estate or who does and what are the economic terms for that? “We have 80,000 acres of Yaupon under company management with plans to scale as the company does.”","author_name":"Robert Brandon Sokol","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-22T02:45:55Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-247695","answers":[{"id":247728,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:247728","answer":"Hi, and thanks for the question! Most of the real estate used for harvesting and cultivation is not owned by our company, but it owned either by the government or private landholders. However, all of the land is under some sort of management or harvesting agreement with our company. For example, we have a contract with the State of Florida which allows us to harvest Yaupon on more than 70,000 acres that the state owns, and the term of that agreement is five years. We do own some land which we use mostly for testing or as source material for our propagated trees, but it’s less than 20 acres. The farms that grow for us are privately owned and all of the cultivation is done on a contract basis where our company buys everything that is produced at a guaranteed price. So, the way to look at this is that you’re not really investing in real estate - we do not have much in terms of real estate holdings - but you would be investing in a supply chain which is secured by numerous contracts and guarantees scalability and safety of the supply chain. We DO own all of our own manufacturing equipment and facility, and we don’t outsource any factor of production. Hope that helps!","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-05-22T12:05:29Z"}]},{"id":247692,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:247692","question":"Was down until I see that you're sending your profits to Ukraine, money is already being stolen from me and sent there through billions of dollars in taxes, I don't need my investment money stolen and sent there too. How about keeping your \"American company\" America focused? Apparently that's impossible to do nowadays. Good luck!","author_name":"B K","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-22T00:14:15Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-247692","answers":[]},{"id":246451,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:246451","question":"When would you say is the most likely timeline or timeframe approximately say for the start of you raise in terms of like months. thanks","author_name":"Timothy Huckaby","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-11T05:20:24Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-246451","answers":[{"id":246480,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:246480","answer":"For the equity raise, we are already working on that, so it is likely the SAFE's will convert to equity in the next six months.","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-05-11T14:59:45Z"}]},{"id":236727,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:236727","question":"I would love to support your company/product/mission but would first like to confirm that you are a cruelty free company.","author_name":"Tiffany Fernandez","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-03-01T01:10:51Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-236727","answers":[{"id":236729,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:236729","answer":"Hi Tiffany- thank you for asking and yes! We do not use any animal products, and we are certified organic! Hope that helps! Kindly, Bryon","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-03-01T01:12:00Z"}]},{"id":236666,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:236666","question":"I'm a big fan of your loose leaf tea of the month series (drinking it now, actually). For the $1.86M that you're looking raise, what do you plan to do with the capital? Also, I see the Projected P\u0026amp;L has profitability in 2023 - are you profitable for 2022?","author_name":"Carolyn Elizabeth Canterman","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-02-28T19:45:56Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-236666","answers":[{"id":236668,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:236668","answer":"Hi Carolyn, in the slide deck on the investment page, there is a slide dedicated to use of funds. But in a nutshell, most of it is operating capital used to scale operations and production, with the second largest chunk going to marketing, promotion, and SG\u0026amp;A. We actually do not expect significant profitability until 2025 - the capital will help us make critical investments in sales and finance positions as well out outlay to support retail expansion, which helps us get to the point. Hope that provides some clarity!","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-02-28T19:50:19Z"}]},{"id":330729,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:330729","question":"Hi Bryon, I sent the e-mail to Jane and cc'd you on it. Just wanted to make sure you seen it and that she has it. Thank you","author_name":"bugg logg","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-04-10T21:21:54Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-330729","answers":[]},{"id":329818,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:329818","question":"Hi Bryon, I re-sent the e-mail today. Please check your spam as well just in case it does appear in your inbox. Thank you.","author_name":"bugg logg","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-04-02T12:01:14Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-329818","answers":[]},{"id":328203,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:328203","question":"What is the exit plan (acquisition, IPO, merger, etc.) in which investors will be able to see a ROI?","author_name":"bugg logg","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-03-19T10:55:19Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/yaupon.brothers#question-328203","answers":[{"id":328224,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:328224","answer":"Hi Bugg, we do envision the most likely exit strategy being an acquisition target - with the main value being the scaled supply chain we have built.","author_name":"Bryon White","votes":1,"created_at":"2026-03-19T15:03:54Z"}]}],"faq":[{"question":"I'm a big fan of your loose leaf tea of the month series (drinking it now, actually). For the $1.86M that you're looking raise, what do you plan to do with the capital? Also, I see the Projected P\u0026amp;L has profitability in 2023 - are you profitable for 2022?","answer":"Hi Carolyn, in the slide deck on the investment page, there is a slide dedicated to use of funds. But in a nutshell, most of it is operating capital used to scale operations and production, with the second largest chunk going to marketing, promotion, and SG\u0026amp;A. We actually do not expect significant profitability until 2025 - the capital will help us make critical investments in sales and finance positions as well out outlay to support retail expansion, which helps us get to the point. Hope..."},{"question":"I would love to support your company/product/mission but would first like to confirm that you are a cruelty free company.","answer":"Hi Tiffany- thank you for asking and yes! We do not use any animal products, and we are certified organic! Hope that helps! Kindly, Bryon"},{"question":"Hi there! First -love the tea! I have tried 2 of them and I must have a cup each day. I have a few questions before I invest. I will apologize for my lack-of -knowledge but want to have a clear understanding. Did this company go by another name previously? If so, if the name c...","answer":"Hi C Zee - glad you love the tea! The company name is Ilex Organics LLC. Yaupon Brothers is our flagship brand. The investment would be in Ilex Organics, so that covers everything the company owns. There are pretty strict regulations in place from the SEC that require lots of disclosures to you, so you know what you’re investing in. We haven’t changed names, but if we did, it wouldn’t impact your investment. We are currently on in Florida Whole Foods. If you don’t see us in your local WFM, pl..."},{"question":"What are your net margins? What's your plan to market and scale. what is your distribution plan and marketing spend and plan?. How are you all truly different? How do you all stand you stand out?..Do you have a plan to bring down operational cost some to save some money? How d...","answer":"Hi Timothy! Thanks for your questions. Several of your inquiries are addressed in this pitch deck:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1l467jk1pQZcQslW2jMx1psqGKy5JJg2Lb-I8oYX1i7o/edit?usp=sharing Also, baked into that cake are several market sensitivities which span from best case to worst case scenario. Supply is less of a problem for us than for other tea companies simply because we are vertically-integrated, and grow our own raw material right here in the USA. That is also what makes us..."},{"question":"When would you say is the most likely timeline or timeframe approximately say for the start of you raise in terms of like months. thanks","answer":"For the equity raise, we are already working on that, so it is likely the SAFE's will convert to equity in the next six months."}]}}}