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Quick answers
Did Brian Lee co-found teaBOT?
Yes. University of Toronto News reported on March 11, 2015 that teaBOT is the brainchild of Rehman Merali and engineer Brian Lee, and quoted Lee as a co-founder. U of T Engineering News wrote on May 31, 2016 that teaBOT was co-founded by Merali and his high-school friend Brian Lee.
Where did the idea come from?
Lee told MaRS Discovery District in an interview published October 20, 2014 that he was in a loose-leaf tea store in Sudbury, Ontario and noticed a huge line of people. Digital Main Street reported on June 5, 2017 that the first machine was loaded with the store's best sellers and made a cup at the press of a button.
Was the company always called teaBOT?
No. MaRS introduced Lee and Merali on October 20, 2014 as the co-founders of tBOT, noting it would soon be renamed teaBOT. In that interview Lee said the team relied on 3D printing to test ideas quickly and worked out of the MaRS JOLT space with its mentors.
What is his role today?
No current role could be confirmed. teaBOT's Our Story page, checked September 24, 2026, names Rehman Merali as co-founder and CEO and does not list Lee.