Coffee startup, Ciao Coffee, successfully acquires seed funding
In the bustling world of coffee, a new player is making waves. Ciao Coffee, a groundbreaking startup, is redefining the industry with its innovative beanless iced coffee.
Founded by Anton Reich and a team of experienced professionals in FMCG, food innovation, and branding, Ciao Coffee aims to offer a more sustainable, functional, and health-conscious coffee experience. According to Reich, "With Ciao Coffee, we want to rethink coffee - more sustainably, functionally, and healthily. Enjoyment, innovation, and responsibility are not mutually exclusive. So why leave everything as it is when it can be better?"
Their revolutionary product is a ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage made from a unique blend of oats, rye, barley, dandelion roots, and chicory. This alternative caters to the growing consumer demand for healthy, sustainable options, particularly among those with poor tolerance for traditional coffee.
Ciao Coffee's success is not limited to its innovative recipe. The startup has secured a mid-six-figure pre-seed financing round in mid-2025, which will support further product development and market expansion. This investment reflects the confidence investors have in Ciao Coffee's innovative approach and growth potential.
The company is capitalizing on two key market dynamics. Firstly, the rapid growth of the functional beverage market in Europe, valued at several billion euros. Secondly, an increasing number of consumers seeking alternatives to traditional coffee due to intolerance or health reasons. Ciao Coffee's early retail success includes distribution in over 500 Rewe stores across Germany, Edeka, and 100 Billa Plus stores in Austria, with sales reportedly on par with established brands like Starbucks and Mövenpick.
Tina Dreimann, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Better Ventures, praises Ciao Coffee, stating, "This brand shows how new brands can rethink markets with a clear focus on sustainability, functionality, health, and enjoyment." Better Ventures, a leading impact angel network, led the funding round for Ciao Coffee.
Ciao Coffee's recipe combines measured caffeine with a vitamin B complex and iron, aiming to provide sustained alertness and focus without the caffeine crash. The ingredients used, including rye, barley, chicory, and dandelion root, are all sourced exclusively from European agriculture.
As Ciao Coffee continues to disrupt the European coffee and functional beverage market, it's clear that its focus on sustainability, functionality, health, and enjoyment is resonating with consumers. The fresh capital from the funding round will be invested in branding, retail expansion, and product development, ensuring that Ciao Coffee remains at the forefront of this exciting new market.
The The lifestyle offered by Ciao Coffee, a groundbreaking startup, is centered around sustainability, functionality, and health, appealing to consumers seeking alternatives to traditional coffee. Their revolutionary technology, a unique blend of oats, rye, barley, dandelion roots, and chicory, forms the basis of their ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage, catering to the growing demand for healthy and sustainable options.
