Manoj & Svitlana’s Story

From Classmates to Collaborators

An earthy, floral aroma escaped from the canister as Svitlana went in for another smell of the fresh, dried black tea leaves. Manoj proudly looked on as his Himalko Tea was admired by the friend he met through the International Institute of Minnesota.

“When I started Himalko Tea, I didn’t know anything,” said Manoj,  a recent graduate of the Institute’s new Entrepreneurship Class. “But the Institute opened the door. It taught me how to run a business.”

Manoj did not speak any English when he arrived in the United States in 2018. From a small community in Nepal, he twice applied for a visa to come to America but was not selected. On his third attempt, he was chosen in the lottery-style selection process. He says the feeling was unbelievable when he found out he was picked, especially since he was the first person in his community to come to the U.S.

After arriving in Minnesota, Manoj began working at the restaurant India House on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. Through his job and watching television and YouTube, he soon learned English. By 2021, he was enrolled in the computer science program at the University of Minnesota, and during this time, he became interested in starting his own business.

The Institute opened the door. It taught me how to run a business.

Since some of the best tea in the world comes from his original home in Nepal, he saw an opportunity to share it with his new home of Minnesota. Through farmers he knew back home, he found a source for Himalko Tea, meaning “Of the Himalayas” in Nepali.

He realized he needed more assistance than the university could provide to build his business, and a quick Google search brought him to the International Institute’s newly created Entrepreneurship class. The eight-week course teaches students how to create a business plan while receiving support from instructors, financial coaches and business experts. It seemed like a perfect fit for Manoj.

Building Connections

While enrolled in the Institute class last year, Manoj met another student with an entrepreneurial spirit that matched his.

Svitlana came to the U.S. in March 2023, fleeing the Russian invasion in her home country of Ukraine. After first arriving in New York City, she and her husband sought a less overwhelming environment and landed in Minnesota.

Through connections at the Ukrainian American Community Center in Minneapolis, Svitlana’s husband connected with the Institute and joined the Professional Leadership Training program. Shortly after her husband’s enrollment, Svitlana joined the training along with the Entrepreneurship Class.

“When you have an idea and you want to implement it, you need something or someone who can help you to see the whole picture,” Svitlana shared about why she chose the Entrepreneurship class at the Institute.

While in class, Svitlana met Manoj and learned about Himalko Tea. As a lover of tea herself, and after tasting Manoj’s high-quality Nepalese product, she knew she wanted to share her marketing knowledge and expertise to help her new friend succeed.

The Institute is an amazing place. Just incredible. I wish most cities could have one.

Following a bit of market research on the tea industry, Svitlana prepared a short digital marketing strategy for Himalko. She taught Manoj how to use advertising and stressed the importance of Google Ads, search keywords and search engine optimization (SEO). But most importantly, she provided recommendations and suggestions for a user-friendly website.

Opportunities for Business Growth

Based on what he learned from the Institute’s Entrepreneurship class and Svitlana, Manoj worked with a web developer to create a business website for Himalko Tea, which recently launched at the end of last year. While he has a steady stream of devoted clients, including some current and former Institute staff, he eagerly anticipates the website’s launch and looks toward the future when he envisions Himalko as a recognizable brand in the tea world.

Manoj speaks highly of his Institute instructor and other staff who continue to help him, many months after graduating from Entrepreneurship class.

“I think the Institute has a very good staff and team, and they are very helpful,” he said. “I’ve been to other places but I see here a very willing staff to help. There is a lot of help available. Anything that I need help with I can call.”

Similarly, Svitlana said, “the Institute is an amazing place. Just incredible. I wish most cities could have one.”

She added that she found it inspiring to see how many students have graduated from Institute classes and succeeded in their personal and professional lives.

Svitlana hopes to expand her marketing business, Muster Agency, LLC, and continue to “build a peaceful life here.”

Manoj takes great pride in not just his product, but what entrepreneurship as a whole means to him. “When you’re running a business, you’re not helping just one individual, you’re helping many more people. You’re helping a community.”