Poppi Founders Launch New Company After $1.95 Billion PepsiCo Sale

5 articles · Updated · Business Insider · May 23

Allison and Stephen Ellsworth said they are starting another company soon, less than a year after selling Poppi to PepsiCo for $1.95 billion and taking a brief break from work.
The couple told Business Insider they were "too young to retire" and missed building with a team, aiming to apply the operating lessons they gained scaling Poppi into a new venture.
Poppi grew from Allison Ellsworth's 2016 apple-cider-vinegar home remedy into a national prebiotic soda brand, helped by a 2018 Shark Tank appearance and a $400,000 investment from Rohan Oza.
The founders said the path included maxed-out credit cards, personal loans, selling a car for equipment and raising as much as $25 million during the pandemic before Poppi topped $500 million in annual sales by 2024.
Since the sale, they said they have largely cut ties with Poppi, are investing and mentoring founders, and are trying to keep their three children grounded despite the windfall.

As PepsiCo absorbs Poppi, can the startup's 'authentic' vibe survive inside a corporate giant known for mass-market sodas?

With mixed science on its key ingredient, was Poppi's billion-dollar success a health revolution or a marketing masterpiece?

Beyond 'Shark Tank,' what was the riskiest decision the Ellsworths made that ultimately saved their billion-dollar brand?