TeaDeus and the End of Tea Bags: Brewing Innovation with Purpose

Summary

Living Your Legacy – Episode Summary
Episode Title: TeaDeus and the End of Tea Bags: Brewing Innovation with Purpose
Podcast Host: Rudy Mawer
Guest: Ivan Tercy, Founder of TDEOS (TeaDeus)
Date: November 3, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of Living Your Legacy centers on innovation, resilience, and the entrepreneurial journey of Ivan Tercy, the founder of TDEOS, a brand seeking to eliminate traditional tea bags through an eco-friendly, premium loose leaf tea cup. Host Rudy Mawer and Ivan discuss Ivan's inspiring story—from humble beginnings and hardships as an immigrant in the United States to launching a disruptive product in the tea industry. The conversation explores lessons in adversity, product innovation, and the lasting impact of legacy-driven business.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ivan Tercy’s Early Entrepreneurial Journey

• Origins of Hustle

  • Ivan began entrepreneurial work as a child, selling gum at age seven to buy a wrestling uniform ([02:05]).
  • Progressed to selling newspapers by age 10, cementing his enterprising spirit early.

• Immigrating and Facing Hardship

  • Fulfilled a lifelong dream by moving to the US, encountering immense challenges as he juggled three jobs (pizza delivery, warehouse work, Uber) while raising a toddler ([03:39]).
  • "Sleep was a luxury to me... I didn't have a chance to fail because that would mean I have to come back. And in my country, there was a war at that time." – Ivan [04:47]

• Creation Born from Adversity

  • Experienced betrayal when a friend landed an office job Ivan wanted at his warehouse position; the setback spurred him to start his own computer company ([05:15]).
  • Built a multimillion-dollar business from scratch, “zero money down,” before feeling driven to create a product truly his own.

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The Birth and Vision of TDEOS

• Identifying the Problem with Tea Bags

  • Upon arriving in the US, Ivan found the tea market lacking in quality and health standards: "I realized that the idea to have a mission to educate American people to drink healthy tea and eco friendly, high quality is really something that fire me up from inside." – Ivan [07:00]

• TDEOS Product Innovation

  • TDEOS offers high-quality loose leaf tea in an eco-friendly, disposable cup with a plant-based filter—no plastic, no tea dust, and minimal waste.
  • "This is the game changer in the nearest future. People not going to use the tea bags at all because no point for that." – Ivan [00:01], [07:27]
  • The cup’s design allows for strength customization and can be brewed up to three times ([08:28]).
  • Product targeted at both B2B (bulk) and individual consumers; available online (especially Amazon), local stores, gas stations, and hotels ([09:10]).

• Sustainable and Convenient

  • Packaging is fully biodegradable, with convenience for busy lifestyles—no spills, no mess, and on-the-go usage ([10:03], [10:57]).

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Market, Product, and Mission

• Flavors and Product Line

  • Focus on traditional and herbal varieties: green tea, black tea, lemon ginger, peppermint, chamomile—no artificial flavors or sugars ([09:33]).

• Vision for the Future

  • Ivan’s objective is to “eliminate the tea bag”: "We're going to eliminate the tea bags, man... I think this product will be on top." – Ivan [10:03], [10:23]
  • Committed to continued innovation and sustainability within the tea industry ([11:20]).

• Health and Environmental Advocacy

  • Stresses the dangers of microplastics in conventional tea bags.
  • "You choose whether you want some harmful products and inconvenient or you can have a set that is already ready for use and it's healthy." – Ivan [10:41]

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Lessons in Resilience & Building a Legacy

• Overcoming Major Setbacks

  • Lost his main account (80% revenue) after a competitor's complaint led to marketplace suspension ([11:53]).
  • Turned adversity into opportunity: “You pull yourself together, you create a plan how you can fix that and you overcome the barrier... we actually doubled our revenue in the half of the year after the suspension.” ([12:24])
  • Ivan’s ethos: Every barrier can become a springboard for new growth and opportunity ([12:54]).

• Legacy Defined

  • "My legacy is that I want to create a product that people can feel grateful for and that's my mission... I'll do my best to create useful and healthy products for all the people because I'm grateful for many things that I use and that's...my mission." – Ivan [13:27]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I can tell you that this is the game changer in the nearest future...instead we offer the high quality loose leaf tea in a very convenient way." – Ivan ([00:01])
• "I didn't have a chance to fail because that would mean I have to come back. And in my country, there was a war at that time." – Ivan ([04:47])
• "If you stir it more, you get it more strong. If you don't want it, you keep it like that and you can brew it up to three times." – Ivan ([08:28])
• "Every time you have any barrier, it's probably a new way or a new opportunities for you and you don't have to be sad or in depression." – Ivan ([12:54])
• "Go and find new ways. It's a push for you. That's what I learned and that's very important. I don't think something will stop me." – Ivan ([13:10])
• "My legacy is that I want to create a product that people can feel grateful for and that's my mission and I'm working on it." – Ivan ([13:27])

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Ivan's Early Entrepreneurship: [02:05] – Selling gum to buy a wrestling uniform
• Immigration Struggles & Motivation: [03:39] – Juggling multiple jobs, “Sleep was a luxury...”
• Turning Betrayal into Drive: [05:15] – Not getting promoted, starting his business
• Transition to Tea Innovation: [06:47] – Why focus on tea
• TDEOS Product Explained: [07:27] – What makes it a “game changer”
• Health, Convenience, and Sustainability: [10:03] – Eliminating the tea bag, brand mission
• Overcoming Major Setback: [11:53] – Losing main account and rebounding
• Philosophy on Legacy: [13:27] – Ivan’s mission-driven approach

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Where to Find TDEOS

• Amazon: Search “TDEOS”
• Company Website: Link in podcast show notes
• Retail: Local stores, gas stations, hotels ([09:10])

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Tone & Takeaway

The episode encapsulates the grit, adaptability, and vision of immigrant entrepreneurs building their own American dream. Ivan’s practical wisdom, relentless optimism, and commitment to health and environment shine through a candid and motivational conversation—a true legacy in the making, backed by innovation and purpose.

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Summary prepared for listeners of "Living Your Legacy" who want the key lessons and moments—no tea bag required.

Transcript

[Rudy]

What makes this special?

[Ivan Tercy]

I can tell you that this is the game changer in the nearest future. People not going to use the tea bags at all because no point for that. They are inconvenient, they are unhealthy. It's a tea dust inside the tea bag and instead we offer the high quality loose leaf tea in a very convenient way.

[Narrator]

Ivan Tercy is a resilient, forward thinking and purpose driven entrepreneur behind Tito's. The innovative brand redefining how people experience premium tea through its signature teacups to go.

[Rudy]

Most people that are successful, it's like the success came out of failure. Right. Or adversity or someone letting you down or stealing from you.

[Ivan Tercy]

When I lost my main account after three years of doing business and it's 80% of our revenue account like the main. So the action that I took were like, was a big lesson for me and the most important.

[Rudy]

It spans the.

[Ivan Tercy]

Globe like a super high cold Internet Elvis.

[Podcast Host]

Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win the living your legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has happened. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan Open Chicago with the lead. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dreams.

[Rudy]

Hello and welcome back to another episode of Legacy Makers. Joining me today is Ivan. He's got an awesome tea brand and he's got a true American dream story. Came just like me over to the US and is building an amazing brand. Has been an entrepreneur selling his entire life just like me, from as young as seven. So welcome to the show.

[Ivan Tercy]

Hi Rudy. Thank you for having me.

[Rudy]

Pleasure. So let's hear that. Let's hear the story first. How did you, you know, tell us. You've been selling your whole life, right? What brought you over here?

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah, it started in my early childhood when I was seven years old. I started selling gum at school because I needed money for my uniform. I was in a wrestling club at that time. Right. And the gum was gifted by my uncle. And I didn't say anybody, but I started selling, selling and made money and bought my uniform. And later When I was 10, I started selling newspapers and made some money too. And this is how my entrepreneurial venture began actually.

[Rudy]

And you transitioned that into tea.

[Ivan Tercy]

Right.

[Rudy]

So let's talk about.

[Ivan Tercy]

It's been a long transition to the tea. Yeah. So moving to United States was always a dream, like since childhood. Yeah. And then it became the reality when I moved here. The first year was super challenging for me. I was Juggling three jobs. I was working the pizza delivery guy, I was at the warehouse Ubering, you know, and I have a toddler at the same time. It was super tough, man. I started my computer company like year after I arrived to the United States and I did very well. Like, we started from the bottom, from the, from the scratch, with zero money down for the business. And it worked. I worked like 12 hours a day, every day. And eventually in three years, we made a multimillion dollar business. I was selling renowned brands, computer parts. But I felt the urge that I want to create something on my own, something I can be proud of. Your own product. Yeah. And something that I can present to people, to my family members, and literally be proud of that. And this is how my tea products and tea brand became a reality.

[Rudy]

Yeah, And I love that. I mean, just before we get onto the tea, because it's very unique, I do want to kind of show it off. But before that, it's. It's funny how, you know, the entre, the entrepreneurial journey and especially for immigrants coming over here trying to live that American dream, like they see the end result now, right? You have your own business, you grew your other company to millions of dollars, but they don't always see the moving here. Free jobs, Uber. And you know, like, even for me, even getting the visa to be able to move here and work, that was a whole year battle, you know. So let's talk about that. How, you know, what was that like that first year with the times you felt you were never going to make it?

[Ivan Tercy]

As I mentioned, it was super tough and I spent too much at work.

[Rudy]

When you were doing three jobs, right?

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah, yeah, I did three jobs in the same time, like, no joke. And I like, sleep was a luxury to me.

[Rudy]

So you were working no sleep at all, 18 hours a day?

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah, six hours sleep. Exactly. That how it happened. I didn't have a chance to fail because that would mean I have to come back. And in my country, there was a war at that time. So being in that position just forced me to do the most of my ability.

[Rudy]

And what did you think? So you're driving pizzas around.

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah.

[Rudy]

With a dream of starting a business and being an entrepreneur.

[Ivan Tercy]

There is one story that I didn't tell to anybody. I was working in the warehouse and I felt that this is not the stuff that I was born for, you know, and it's been almost a year at the warehouse and I asked my boss if. If I can move to. If he can move me to the office. I Wanted to go in the office and he promised me that okay, okay, let's wait, work a little more at the warehouse. And then I brought my friend to the company. Like I wanted him to find a job. And they took him to the office. And I feel like a little betrayal, you know. And I think I created a challenge within myself that I can prove to them and to myself that I can do something more. And that's probably when the first idea of doing business in the United States came to my mind.

[Rudy]

Sometimes that's good, right? It's like you got kind of screwed over.

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah.

[Rudy]

And it's like. But I always, you know, most of most people that are successful, it's like the success came out of failure. Right. Or adversity or someone letting you down or stealing from you or you know, someone, you know, ruining your plan. And it's like it pushes you to.

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah, it pushed me. And I was like all about an idea to create something on my own. And that's how my computer company started. And yeah.

[Rudy]

And then. Okay, let's talk about. So then the computer company. You're doing well, you what makes you to go. I want to do tea.

[Ivan Tercy]

So I was a tea lover from my childhood. I was passionate about the tea. When I moved to the U.S. i found out that the tea is not really quality in the United States.

[Rudy]

Not like Europe. Yeah, they have a lot of tea.

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah. I realized that the idea to have a mission to educate American people to drink healthy tea and eco friendly, high quality is really something that fire me up from inside.

[Rudy]

Well, it's good you're passionate about it. You know, grew up drinking tea. So let's talk about it. What makes this special?

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah.

[Rudy]

So obviously most people are listening. So describe.

[Ivan Tercy]

I can tell you that this is the game changer. Yeah. In the nearest future, people not going to use the tea bags at all because no point for that. They are inconvenient, they are unhealthy. It's a tea dust inside the tea bag. And instead we offer the high quality loose leaf tea in a very convenient way. And the most important, the product is eco friendly and it's good for the environment as well.

[Rudy]

And just describe the product. If people are listening, they can't visualize it. So it comes in a cup?

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah, it comes in a cup. We have a plant based filter on the bottom.

[Rudy]

Disposable cup.

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah, the cup is disposable with a paper lid. There is no plastic involved in this product. Same with the packaging. And we have a plant based filter inside and the tea is sealed underneath. So you just need to pour hot water and you get a premium loose leaf tea on the go.

[Rudy]

So it's kind of like, you know, the, the candy and cake decorations that are edible. Right. It's like you don't take it out, you just pull and then it degrades and it's drinkable.

[Ivan Tercy]

If you want it strong, some people like strong, some people like less. There is a stir. If you stir it more, you get it more strong. If you don't want it, you keep it like that and you can brew it up to three times.

[Rudy]

And the idea is you order it, you know, boxes of 100, right. Or 200.

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah. We have a few types of packaging for the B2B customers that we are focused on and therefore customers for everyday use like a smaller packages and also for the shelves in supermarket smaller like six pack when people just grab it. And for the travel, for example, if the picnic island or anything. Yeah, for everyone.

[Rudy]

And it's available in stores and online.

[Ivan Tercy]

Amazon, Absolutely. I'm an E commerce dude. And the first thing, we brought the product to Amazon and that's where you can easily find it. But also we have our website and you can find it in local stores, gas stations, that's where. Yes, even the hotels.

[Rudy]

Good. And let's talk about flavors. What sort of flavors you have?

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah, so we try to focus on the most traditional flavors. It's green teas, black teas. And we have a very good product line with herbal teas. We have a ginger, like lemon ginger and peppermint chamomile. Just the herbals, no other artificial flavors or anything like sugars.

[Rudy]

What is the vision? Like your vision is five, ten years from now this has eliminated the teabag and everyone's just.

[Ivan Tercy]

Yeah, we're going to eliminate the tea bags, man. As I can see, people start talking about the harmful microplastic in the tea bags and probably a little ahead of time, but it's coming. It's already coming, people.

[Rudy]

Yeah. I mean it takes five, ten years for the, the general population to catch up. Yes, right.

[Ivan Tercy]

And to catch it. And I think this product will be on top. I think we're on the right way and we're gonna keep doing what we are doing.

[Rudy]

And how is it for people listening cost wise? Because it's obviously more. You know, I imagine 100 tea bags is much cheaper because you don't have the cut part. Right. So how.

[Ivan Tercy]

It's definitely cheaper. But you choose whether you want some harmful products and inconvenient or or you can have a set that is already ready for use and it's healthy.

[Rudy]

And you can run out when you're running out the door in the morning, you're rushed.

[Ivan Tercy]

It's just awesome morning. In the morning you sit in the car or maybe in the office, you're working, you don't have time to deal with the teabags on your table, the drops. You went to the kitchen, poured some hot water and you enjoyed the team.

[Rudy]

And how do you imagine the brand rolling out? Are you going to take this technology for other drinks or just only ever.

[Ivan Tercy]

Tea or to move forward within the tea industry, but mostly with the innovation, if there will be innovation. We are already working on some. So we'll be innovative company but at the same time sustainable, important for us.

[Rudy]

And last few questions for you. You know, obviously you're here filming your episode, right? This is maybe a teaser for people watching it before. What are some lessons, stories, takeaways they're going to get from your main show that they haven't heard about in this podcast?

[Ivan Tercy]

I think the main lesson that I learned from my experience was when I lost my main account after three years of doing business. And it's 80% of our revenue account like the main. And we, we got a suspended marketplace because our competitor complained a few times on that. Can you imagine? And we were so frustrated, we were so in shock. We didn't know what to do, like first time this kind of situation. So the action that I took were like, was a big lesson for me. You pull yourself together, you create a plan how you can fix that and you overcome the barrier. And that what? And not just overcome. We actually doubled our revenue in the half of the year after the suspension. And I realized how the big the potential was besides the platform that we were working on. And if this never happened, we probably would never know or it took us a lot of time to get there, you know. So every time. So what I what lesson? I learned that every time you have any barrier, it's probably a new way or a new opportunities for you and you don't have to be sad or in depression.

[Rudy]

I love that. Yeah, yeah. That entrepreneur.

[Ivan Tercy]

Go and find new ways. It's a push for you. That's what I learned and that's very important. I don't think something will stop me.

[Rudy]

I love that Last couple of questions. What does a legacy mean to you and where do they find you if they want to grab a tea and try it out?

[Ivan Tercy]

So my legacy is that I want to create a product that people can be can feel grateful for and that's my mission and I'm working on it I think I'll do my best to create the useful and healthy products for all the people because I'm grateful for many things that I use and that's how my mission and where do they find the tea? Last question go to Amazon that's the easiest way to grab your cup and.

[Rudy]

What do they spell on Amazon?

[Ivan Tercy]

Just spell it out TDEOS yeah you just search TDEOS and we pop up.

[Rudy]

Good and we'll put the links in the show notes on the video so you can go click the link if you want to try it really high quality product tastes great the whole team and studio are drinking it and very innovative I love you know this is an industry that's not changed for many years so go check it out as always keep making an impact build a legacy and I'll see you guys soon Take care Thank you Take care.