Coffee Brand Says “Everything Changed” Once Meghan Markle Became Their First Investor

Clevr, a wellness-focused instant latte company, blew up almost overnight after Meghan Markle took an interest in their line of products.

On Monday, the brand’s founder Hannah Mendoza celebrated her company’s fourth anniversary by sharing the story of how she and the Duchess of Sussex first crossed paths in an Instagram Reel and how that meeting turned Clevr into a product beloved by many celebrities. Mendoza told Vanity Fair about working with the royal, “Meghan has been an unwavering support system to us as we navigate the twists and turns of building a brand—her deep belief both in our mission, and in myself and our team, is unbelievably meaningful.”

Mendoza began her video by going back to 2016 when she first started the brand with just a handmade coffee bar where they sold adaptogenic beverages and then during the week would ship the blends out to customers from their garage. But, she explained, “Three years ago, everything changed,” cutting to video footage of Meghan sipping one of their drinks out of a mug. “None other than Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, had started drinking our lattes,” the founder continued. “Not only did she love the product, but she was extremely passionate about supporting female founders, our sustainable sourcing and our food justice giveback. Meghan ended up becoming our first investor, adviser and biggest Clevr advocate.”

Mendoza went on to reveal that shortly after beginning to work with Meghan, they got their second celebrity customer in December 2020 when the royal sent a little gift to her dear friend Oprah Winfrey. The legendary talk show host made an Instagram video of herself with the gift basket she received from “my neighbor M,” clarifying in the caption, “yes that M” with a crown emoji, and frothing up one of Clevr’s turmeric lattes to enjoy. Mendoza said, “She even sent our turmeric latte to friends. And a few days later, I open my phone to see Oprah herself making our Golden SuperLatte in her own kitchen. No big deal. We lost it.” Oprah was such a fan of the beverage, she even gave it a coveted spot on her 2021 Oprah’s Favorite Things list. “Our small but mighty team was 100% not ready for this and ended up selling out for two months,” the founder added. And these days, they’ve now sold over six million lattes, which Mendoza says is largely due “to the power of women uplifting women.”

In a press release from 2021 announcing her backing of the brand, Meghan said, “This investment is in support of a passionate female entrepreneur who prioritizes building community alongside her business. I’m proud to invest in Hannah’s commitment to sourcing ethical ingredients and creating a product that I personally love and has a holistic approach to wellness. I believe in her and I believe in her company.”

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