Kiva Iowa profile: Bubbling up success

ELDRIDGE — Bubble tea is a beverage that’s quickly growing in popularity in the Midwest. And that’s largely thanks to entrepreneurs like Jen Hart.

Hart is the owner and operator of Boba’s Bubble Tea, which she says has a goal of “becoming a brand known for bubble tea and good food throughout the Midwest.”

Bubble’s, based in Eldridge, already has expanded into a partnership with the Niabi Zoo in the Quad Cities, and on Sept. 29 will have a ribbon-cutting for its new location at Scott Community College Urban Campus in Davenport.

“Bubble tea is really fun, and people love to hear about it and taste it because there's so many different flavors and types,” Hart says. “So when we're asking people to try it, we ask what their favorite flavor is and then find a bubble tea that matches. People either love it or hate it — and most people love it.”

Bubble tea originated in Taiwan before coming to the United States in the 1990s. It’s a drink that features jelly-like pearls made from tapioca, that give the tea unusual texture and flavor.

When Hart moved with her family from Arizona to Ohio four years ago, she wanted to introduce small-town Midwestern residents to other cultures. So she started with food trucks.

“Food is a very open way to teach people about other cultures,” she said. “So that's kind of how it started. We really enjoyed bubble tea, and it became very popular and it's just stuck.”

Loan to expand

In August of 2022, Hart and her family relocated to Eldridge, where they opened Bubble’s Boba Tea. The business took off, and Hart was put in touch with Niabi Zoo officials in the Quad Cities, who wanted to see bubble tea offered there.

However, Hart knew that would require more investment up front than she could afford to do on her own. That’s why she sought a loan through Kiva Iowa.

Kiva gives entrepreneurs access to a microlending platform to raise zero-interest, zero-fee, extended-grace-period loans. The loans can be for up to $15,000, and lenders can invest as little as $25 at a time.

“The Kiva money made it possible for us to purchase products that were eco-friendly, like bamboo and paper-based items, which is a little bit of an investment up front because those things are more costly,” Hart said.

“But it was important to us, and the zoo, to be able to offer that as an option. In fact, the zoo right now is completely lid-free, and we only have straws for bubble teas.”

Hart says Bubble’s is about to extend its contract with the Niabi Zoo, and she’s very excited for this week’s grand opening and ribbon-cutting at Scott Community College. She says one of her favorite things is seeing a new customer discover bubble tea.

“I love the idea of making people happy,” she says. “I can't tell you how many times someone has come in grumpy, and reluctant to try our tea, and then you see them light up and they're like, 'This is so good. This is the best thing ever.' ”

To learn more about Bubble’s Boba Tea, visit the business’ page on Facebook. To learn more about Kiva Iowa, visit newbo.co/kiva.