David Segal

Early life

David Segal was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. As a young man, he spent 13 years living in Montreal, Quebec, where he pursued his education at McGill University from 2000 to 2004, eventually graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in Entrepreneurship, as well as credentials in English Literature.

Career

In 2008, Segal co-founded DAVIDsTEA with his cousin Herschel Segal. The duo opened their first store in Toronto, launching what would become a rapidly growing tea-based retail empire. Under David’s leadership as CEO, DAVIDsTEA expanded quickly, spearheading a renewed interest in tea consumption by the North American consumer, which was largely based on unveiling new flavors and marketing innovative tea experiences to the general public.

A significant milestone for DAVIDsTEA occurred in 2013 when Oprah Winfrey featured the brand—at that point, a mere five years old—in O, The Oprah Magazine as part of her recurrent ‘favorite things’ feature. This endorsement gave a huge boost to the company and led to a measurable surge in its popularity, with Oprah mentioning her intention to share DAVIDsTEA with the world through social media and feature it in many facets of her media empire. This favourable coverage played a pivotal role in transforming the image of the broader tea industry and bringing it to the attention of 21st century audiences, with DAVIDsTEA enjoying the lion’s share of publicity.

By 2015, DAVIDsTEA boasted 200 locations and generated over $200 million in sales. That same year, the company went public on the NASDAQ exchange, solidifying its status as a major player in the market. The next year, David Segal left DAVIDsTEA amid company-wide restructuring efforts in order to pursue other ventures.

In 2016, Segal turned his focus to a new idea, co-founding Mad Radish, a quick-service restaurant chain that offers hearty, healthy meals. The concept was designed to provide a gourmet alternative to fast food, with a heavy focus on fresh, nutritious ingredients. Mad Radish has since expanded to multiple locations and continues to grow.

David Segal was honored with a spot on Canada’s prestigious Top 40 Under 40 list in 2017, in recognition of his exceptional entrepreneurial achievements. This accolade was presented by Caldwell Partners International Inc., with support from partners such as MNP LLP, Gluskin Sheff, WestJet, and the Toronto Region Board of Trade.

Over the years, David Segal has also actively cultivated a public speaking career, delivering insightful talks on matters such as entrepreneurship, customer service, and the lessons he has learned from his own journey in the business world. Notably, in 2020, he participated in the Inside Our Boardroom speakers series organized by The Globe and Mail, one of Canada’s leading newspapers, which featured discussions with accomplished business leaders on topics such as leadership, business strategy, and corporate culture.

In 2021, Segal launched Firebelly Tea, a web-based premium tea company. Partnering with Shopify President Harley Finkelstein (one of his fellow honourees on 2017’s Top 40 Under 40 list), Firebelly Tea specializes in high-quality, organic teas and accessories, catering to modern lifestyles. The brand has since gained a loyal following among tea enthusiasts across the world.

Continuing his partnership with Harley Finkelstein, in 2023, the two business moguls began co-hosting Big Shot, a podcast where they discuss the stories of noteworthy entrepreneurs and other influential figures.

Net Worth

Devid Segal’s net worth is not currently available to the public.