We recently had the privilege of interviewing Nael Mansi, Co-Founder of Inventions X, and creator of Nelz, the innovative Cooling Cup Lid. To solve the inconvenience of drinking hot beverages, Nael designed Nelz. It cools drinks at the sipping point, addressing key customer challenges like burns, spills, and waiting for the right temperature, delivering a safer and more convenient experience of enjoying a cup of hot beverage. With a proven ability to drive innovation, lead cross-functional teams, and build strategic partnerships, Nael specializes in turning ideas into impactful solutions, with expertise spanning from product development, and patent submission, to market commercialization.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Reflecting on your journey, what inspired you to start in your current industry, and what was a defining moment early in your career?”
Nael Mansi shared, “As an IT and software engineer, I spent years grabbing drive-thru coffee to keep up with my fast-paced work. But every time, I either burned my mouth or had to wait too long for it to cool. It was a frustrating problem that millions of people faced every day, yet no real solution existed.
That simple inconvenience sparked the idea of finding an effective solution to this everyday frustration. What started as curiosity turned into an obsession. Over four years, my team and I tested over 200 prototypes, refining every detail until we perfected the Nelz Cooling Cup Lid—a solution that cools each sip instantly while keeping the rest of the beverage hot.
A defining moment came when we were close to giving up. After countless failed designs, we nearly walked away three times. Achieving the perfect balance between cooling efficiency and suction power was our biggest challenge. But then, one simple tweak changed everything. That breakthrough reinforced the power of persistence, adaptability, and innovation.”
Navigating Through Challenges
Challenges are a part of every journey. So, we asked, “What has been one of the most significant challenges you faced, and how did you overcome it?”
“The biggest challenge was turning an idea into a practical, scalable product. Developing a lid that cools each sip while maintaining the beverage’s heat required extensive R&D.
Funding was another major hurdle. We started with self-funding, supported by close friends and family who believed in our vision. With a small but dedicated team, many of us working full-time jobs, we pushed through. The breakthrough came when we focused on precision engineering, optimizing airflow and cooling dynamics for a seamless experience. It wasn’t easy, but solving a universal problem made every challenge worth it.” He explained.
Potential Trends Of The Future
We further asked, “Given the rapid evolution in your industry, what major trends do you see shaping the future, and how is your company preparing for them?”
“The hot beverage industry is shifting towards sustainability, safety, and intelligent convenience. With major coffee brands like Starbucks phasing out single-use plastics, we designed the Nelz Cooling Cup Lid to fit modern reusable tumblers—helping brands reduce waste while maintaining an effortless drinking experience. Moreover, burns, spills, and waiting for coffee to cool have frustrated consumers for years. Our lid solves this, especially for drivers, parents, and elderly consumers, who are often underserved in this market.
The future is intelligent drinkware. That’s why we’re now developing a first-of-its-kind smart tumbler that can cool and heat drinks, an innovation never done before, reflecting our approach to smart beverage technology. The GCC region is leading the specialty coffee movement, making the UAE and Saudi Arabia key markets for our innovations. The future of coffee drinking is about being smart, safe, and sustainable—and we are leading that transformation.” Nael added.
Plans We Asked Nael Mansi
To learn the plans and goals Nael has set for his company. So, we asked, “Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for your company, and what strategies are you considering to achieve them?”
Nael Mansi reflected, “Our vision is to make Nelz Cooling Cup Lid the global standard for hot beverage consumption, ensuring that coffee lovers worldwide can enjoy their drinks immediately and safely. We are looking forward to building strategic partnerships. Collaborating with coffee chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ and tumbler brands like Contigo and Stanley to integrate our lid technology into their products is on our list.
Also, we are working to position our product in high-demand markets like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, USA, and Canada, where specialty coffee culture is thriving. Prioritizing continued innovation is our mantra. By investing in smart beverage technology, including AI-powered tumblers that cool and heat drinks on demand, we are setting a new benchmark for convenience.
As coffee brands transition to reusable solutions, Nelz is the perfect fit—enhancing safety, eliminating burns, and improving the drinking experience.”
Adaptability Amidst Tech-Driven Changes
AI and emerging technologies are transforming businesses. We asked, “How do you see these changes affecting your industry, and how is your company adapting?”
Nael Mansi mentioned, “AI is revolutionizing consumer experiences, and the beverage industry is catching up. Traditional tumblers only focus on heat retention and spill prevention—but the real innovation lies in intelligent adaptability. Our next-generation models will leverage AI to personalize every sip—learning user drinking habits and optimizing the cooling/heating process in real time:
- Personalized Temperature Control: AI adapts sip temperature to the user’s preferred range.
- Extended Warmth Retention: AI prolongs optimal heat based on drinking behavior.
- Seamless User Experience: The lid automates adjustments, eliminating guesswork.
Right now, tumblers compete on outdated features—we’re competing on an entirely different scale by bringing AI-driven adaptability to modern coffee lovers. We are redefining how people interact with their drinks—bringing the future of beverage technology to the present.”
Core Values Guiding The Business
We were interested to learn more about the values that guide Nelz. So, we asked, “What guiding principles or core values drive your company’s success?”
“At Nelz, our core values are safety, innovation, and user experience. Our design choices focus on immediate sipping without burns, creating a new drinking habit. Initially, users notice a smaller sip volume, but this is by design—our lid cools each sip by mixing it with air, ensuring safety first. The air valve allows full control over the sip volume, tailoring the experience.
Instead of a direct stream, the drink is delivered as a gentle splash—enhancing flavor while preventing burns. Users quickly adapt and find they can’t drink coffee on the go without it anymore.” He mentioned.
Game-Changing Innovations By Nael
We asked, “Could you share an innovative strategy that has helped your company stand out in a competitive market?”
Nael Mansi shared, “We aren’t just making another tumbler lid—we’re redefining beverage consumption. While others focus on heat retention, Nelz actively cools each sip for an instant, safe, and enjoyable experience.
Our upcoming AI-driven lids will learn drinking preferences, automatically adjusting the temperature for a perfectly customized sip every time. This smart adaptability is something no tumbler or lid offers today, making Nelz a true game-changer in the market.”
Staying Ahead Of The Curve
We ended the interview by asking, “Could you share a recent strategy that has helped your company gain a competitive edge?”
“One of our biggest breakthroughs has been shifting perception—Nelz isn’t just a lid, it’s technology. We’ve redefined beverage lids from being passive accessories to active problem-solvers. Instead of simply preventing spills, the Nelz Cooling Cup Lid instantly cools each sip, protects teeth from stains, and enhances flavor—creating a new category of drinking experience.
We’re also introducing AI-driven adaptability in our next models, allowing users to enjoy beverages at their preferred temperature while optimizing heat retention.
By combining science, technology, and user behavior insights, we’ve built a solution that’s not just innovative but necessary for modern coffee lovers. We’re setting the new standard for convenience, safety, and sustainability in the coffee industry.” Nael concluded.
Follow Nael Mansi on LinkedIn.
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