Bobacino Lets Investors Buy Into a Robotic Boba Bar High on Quality and Low on Overhead Get in on an intriguing alternative investment that could fuel America's obsession with bubble tea.

By Entrepreneur Store Edited by Jason Fell

Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Bobacino

Back in 1986, a small tea shop in Taiwan needed something new to attract customers. So they started combining four ingredients – tea, milk, syrup, and the true secret weapon, tapioca balls – into a whole new drink. The sweetly milky chewy concoction was an instant smash and just like that, boba, or bubble tea, was born.

After quickly sweeping through Asia, then expanding out to the rest of the world in the 1990s, boba has become a truly international force. The global boba market was estimated at about $5.3 billion in 2019, and is expected to reach $8 billion by 2024. Yelp even labeled boba tea as the most popular delivery item being ordered in states like California and Michigan during the early pandemic months of 2020.

Despite boba's skyrocketing popularity, the U.S. hasn't exactly seen a corresponding explosion of bubble tea retailers to keep up with that demand. As of 2021, there are only about 3,300 boba shops in the U.S., with most clustered along the east and west coasts.

Between economic downturns and the sheer cost of opening and staffing physical storefronts, it's easy to see why there isn't a boba shop on every corner nationwide, even though demand for the drink seems to support the viability.

Bobacino was founded on the premise that there's a way to bring high quality boba to the masses in all U.S. markets while still keeping costs low. Their solution: colorful, robot-operated kiosks to be located in high traffic areas like malls, allowing entrepreneurs to offer premium boba without the crippling costs of large retail spaces or expensive payrolls.

The future of boba may be a robot.

Now, Bobacino is enlisting investor support via their current StartEngine campaign to help roll out and position their automated boba bars in communities all over the U.S.

Bobacino stands are only 16 square feet in size, and can be stationed almost anywhere, from college campuses to shopping malls to airports and business parks. And because the stands can be stocked and maintained with minimal support, small-business owners can deliver high-quality, affordable boba drinks at lower prices. The stands are even easily moveable from location to location to help optimize earnings.

While traditional startup businesses take about a year to open at a cost of anywhere from $200,000 to $375,00 per location, Bobacino stands only cost $50,000 and could be running in less than two weeks.

Boba fans only have to walk up to the kiosk, enter their order with the customized ordering screen, then sit back as the six-axis robotic arm and automated taps serve up brewed teas, chilled milk and sweeteners to create a truly customized boba experience. The stand will even seal the cup so there's no spillage, all while customers watch the entire process happen right in front of them.

And while many current boba retailers are forced to skimp on quality ingredients to offset operational costs, Bobacino's low cost ensures owners can maintain a top-notch level of quality. In fact, all it takes are quality ingredients, a part-time worker to restock those ingredients, and a smart device to monitor operations to get a Bobacino open for business.

Investing in Bobacino.

One of Bobacino's lead investors is Wavemaker Labs, the creator of the Bobacino prototype as well as the similar Piestro robotic stand for making artisanal pizza on demand. Right now, entrepreneurs looking to diversify their portfolio can buy in as an early Bobacino investor and buy equity shares in the startup.

Potential buyers can follow up on the entire campaign now through the Bobacino StartEngine page and find out how to invest along with Wavemaker Labs and over 250 other high level investors today.

This Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC and is highly speculative and illiquid.

Offering Circular: https://bit.ly/3oMymYi

Risks: https://bit.ly/2RC68Ud

Entrepreneur Store

Account Manager

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'More Soul-Crushing Than Ever': Popular Hiring Platform Finds Around 20% of Its Postings Were 'Ghost Jobs'

Is that job listing too good to be true? There's a one-in-five chance that it might be.

Business News

'Masculine Energy Is Good': Mark Zuckerberg Tells Joe Rogan He Thinks Companies Need More Aggression

On the most recent episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said corporate culture has become "neutered."

Growing a Business

5 Risk-Taking Lessons From Founders Who Bet Big and Won

Discover the bold moves and strategic risks that catapulted these entrepreneurs to success. Learn how their fearless decisions can inspire your own path to growth.