Late nights in Towne just got a little sweeter.
Orble, a student-founded startup that began as a 2023 senior design project, has launched its first boba tea vending machine on Penn’s campus in the Towne building. What started as a classroom idea has evolved into a fully operational pilot, bringing fresh drinks to students throughout the day and into the night.
The launch of Orble Beta features 14 flavors, with roughly 120 drinks produced per batch. Options range from classic milk teas to coffee-based beverages, each designed with both quality and convenience in mind. With a shelf life of five to six days, the team has balanced freshness with scalability as they prepare for future expansion with Orble Next Gen. “We want to make sure that you’re getting the same quality that you would get in an actual boba shop,” said Nastassja Kuznetsova (Computer Engineering ‘23, Data Science ‘24), chief executive officer and founder. The vending machine sold out in two days.
At its core, Orble focuses on accessibility. “We wanted something that’s there for students studying late,” said Corina Chen, a sophomore in MEAM, chief technology officer and cofounder. For students working late into the night, options for food and drinks can be limited, and Orble aims to fill that gap.
Chen joined Orble as a first-year student and became involved in the mechanical engineering and design of the machines. “Working on a startup gave me the opportunity to have full jurisdiction over a project,” she said. “In class, we go in depth, but the startup lets me explore areas like marketing and business.”
Kuznetsova said building Orble alongside her full-time job has allowed her to see the direct impact of her work. “I’ve always been more entrepreneurial and wanted to work on my own project,” she said. “I imagined working on a startup would happen a few years after I graduated, but I’ve been building this while working full-time. If you had told me a year ago that I’d spend my morning at a kitchen in West Philly creating drinks, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
The team is also developing Orble Next Gen, a machine designed to brew tea and cook tapioca pearls on demand. The system will allow for real-time preparation and increased customization, moving beyond the current off-site production model.
Behind the scenes, the team, including Krishna, who leads kitchen operations and logistics, has partnered with local resources such as the Dorrance Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises to refine recipes and production processes.
This installation marks Orble’s first official pilot as the team prepares to raise a pre-seed round this spring. Students can participate by completing a short survey to receive $1 drinks, while also providing feedback on preferences, purchasing behavior and demand.
For both founders, the project began with a simple idea and a willingness to build. “It always begins with something you’re interested in,” Chen said. Kuznetsova added, “It’s an active choice I’m making every day to work on this.”
So the next time you’re in Towne, Orble offers a new option for students seeking a quick drink, whether between classes or during a late-night study session.
