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To celebrate 10 years of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network, we are highlighting standout clients from our history of free business assistance. KEVO has a simple goal: make smooth, delicious cold brew coffee more convenient for everyone. They've first accomplished this mission through their KEVO Double Barrel product, which makes cold brew out of single-serve coffee pods. It's now available on Amazon.
The PennWest Edinboro Beehive helped KEVO with branding, marketing strategies and their product packaging. The Gannon Beehive helped them run an initial Kickstarter campaign, which raised over $17K for the development of the product.
We recently spoke with Paul McMahon, the founder of KEVO.
Q: When did you start your business? What inspired you to start the business?
A: It started back when I was studying physics at Edinboro University. A close friend and I were always interested in how things worked, and we often talked about the idea of inventing something someday.
After college, I served in the military, where I drank a lot of black coffee, mostly because there wasn’t always access to cream or sugar. I never really enjoyed hot black coffee, but it was part of the routine. When I got back stateside, I discovered cold brew and liked how much smoother and less bitter it was, but I didn’t like how inconvenient it was to make.
Later on, that same friend and I would go mountain biking and continue talking through ideas. During COVID, when things slowed down and we were more limited in what we could do, we had more time to think through problems like this. We settled on a problem we believed we could solve and that had a real market: why isn’t there an easier way to make cold brew using what people already have?
After my military service, I went into education and started robotics and engineering programs, where I spent a lot of time building, testing, and teaching students how to think through problems and create solutions.
That mindset eventually led me to want to start my own business. I pursued my MBA at the University of Pittsburgh and developed Kevo, a non-electric cold brew system that works with regular coffee grounds or K-cup®-style pods, making it easy to brew smooth, low-acidity coffee at home without changing your routine.
Q: Talk about your collaboration with the Beehive. What did the network help you with?
A: My experience with the Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation Beehive Network was incredibly valuable, especially when it came to building the Kevo brand from the ground up.
One of the biggest areas they helped with was branding. That included developing my logo, choosing colors and fonts, shaping the brand story, and even guiding the overall box and packaging design. Before that, I had a product, but not a fully developed brand.
They also helped me think more strategically about how to communicate the value of Kevo, who the customer is, how to position the product, and how to make everything feel consistent and professional.
The branding developed through the Beehive is directly reflected in my Amazon listing and my Shopify website, and it’s helped create a more cohesive and credible experience for customers.
Q: How has that Beehive work helped your business? What was most impactful about your collaboration with the Beehive?
A: The most impactful part of working with the Beehive Network is that it’s not a one-time interaction, it’s an ongoing relationship.
They’ve really been like a long-term partner throughout the process. I still regularly reach out to the Beehive team for marketing advice, and they’re always willing to help think through ideas, provide feedback, and guide next steps. That kind of consistent support has been extremely valuable, especially as the business continues to evolve.
They also played a key role in helping on the marketing side during my Kickstarter campaign, which led to over 150 backers and $17.5K raised. Through their network and support, I was able to get exposure on local radio and news shows, which helped build early awareness and credibility.
What stands out most is that their support didn’t stop there. They continue to help as I grow the business, including now as I’ve launched on Amazon. Having a resource like that, someone you can consistently go back to for guidance, has made a big difference in moving Kevo forward.
Q: When thinking about your business growth, what are you most proud of?
A: I’m most proud of turning an idea into a real product that solves a problem for people. This started with a friend and I simply talking about wanting to invent something someday, and it grew into something more.
We designed the product ourselves, teaching myself CAD along the way, from experience running robotics and engineering programs. There were plenty of times I wanted to give up, but I kept going, learning, refining, and improving the design step-by-step. That process led to securing a patent and working through the transition from 3D-printed prototypes to a manufacturable product.
Along the way, we’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of really smart and supportive people, including the Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation Beehive Network, as well as programs like the Ben Franklin TechCelerator, where we were fortunate to receive the People’s Choice Award. Each step pushed me to keep learning and improving.
If I had to narrow it down, what I’m most proud of is the perseverance. There were a lot of challenges — technical, financial, and mental — but continuing to move forward and not giving up made all the difference.
I’ve also learned that you can’t do this alone. There are so many great people willing to help. You just have to ask, listen, and be grateful. That’s been just as important as anything I’ve built.
Q: Where are you going next? What are you excited to build or explore moving forward?
A: Right now, my focus is on continuing to grow awareness for Kevo, building momentum on Amazon, and gathering customer feedback to keep improving the product and messaging.
At the same time, I do have a few additional products I’d like to bring to market. One is a universal basket that allows users to make cold brew with regular coffee grounds instead of needing coarse grinds. Another is a product called Vedge, a tool designed to cut through hard-shelled fruits and vegetables like spaghetti squash, which we were also able to secure a patent for.
Beyond products, though, I want to build something bigger than just a product company. My goal is to create a lifestyle brand centered around healthier living, encouraging people to be more mindful of what they put into their bodies and how that impacts their energy, mindset, and overall well-being.
Long term, I’d love to use part of the success from Kevo to give back in meaningful ways, especially by supporting kids. That could include helping build playgrounds, promoting active lifestyles, and encouraging children to pursue their passions. I really believe that being active and eating healthy go hand in hand, and that foundation can help people accomplish more and make a positive impact in the world.
— Discover More
KEVO on Facebook
KEVO on Amazon
KEVO on Instagram
KEVO Website
We thank Paul for taking the time to talk with us about his experience.
