Reza Bavar Interview: The Story Behind Kaloud, the Lotus, and Hookah Innovation
Kaloud founder and CEO Reza Bavar chats with author Medkov Stanislav about starting the company, his greatest achievements, and fighting counterfeiters. You can find the full original text on the website Hookah Battle.
Kaloud founder and CEO Reza Bavar on inventing the Lotus, building a brand from near-homelessness, fighting counterfeits, and why authenticity wins.
Reza Bavar in conversation with Medkov Stanislav ·
Key Takeaways
- Kaloud founder Reza Bavar invented the Lotus in 2012 to manage heat transfer between charcoal and shisha.
- Bringing the first Lotus to market cost several hundred thousand dollars — Reza was nearly homeless during development.
- Independent German laboratory testing measured selected smoke constituents under specific configurations; it did not establish safe smoking or reduced health risks.
- The Krysalis Eltheria has won two international product design awards — a first for the hookah industry.
- Kaloud manufactures in China, the Netherlands, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
- The mission: transform the world one puff at a time.
Editorial clarification: The interview below preserves Reza Bavar’s original statements. References to laboratory results describe measurements under specific test conditions and do not establish safe smoking, reduced health risks, or reduced physiological harm.