“Exploring the Intersection of Gut Health and Hypergrowth with Ben Goodwin of Olipop”

Welcome back to Found, where we get the stories behind the startups. This week Becca and Dom are joined by Ben Goodwin, the co-founder and CEO of Olipop, a soda startup making low-sugar pop with probiotics. Goodwin talked about his foray into the soda space after working in kombucha and discovering the positive impacts of paying attention to microbiome health. They also talk about the questions they wished they dove into more, like what the process was like to get Olipop eligible for Medicare reimbursements. Plus, they talk about their relationship — and lack thereof — to the soda category in general.

Welcome back to Found, where we uncover the captivating tales of startups.

This time, Becca and Dom are joined by the visionary mind behind Olipop, Ben Goodwin. Goodwin is the co-founder and CEO of Olipop, a pioneering soda company revolutionizing the industry with its low-sugar, probiotic-infused beverages. Goodwin shares his journey into the soda world, following his work in the kombucha scene and discovering the immense benefits of prioritizing microbiome health. Along with this, Goodwin delves into:

How he manages the responsibilities of a CEO while still creating new and unique flavors for Olipop
The challenges of securing funding for a riskier and highly competitive consumer market like beverages
The tremendous growth of the company and its successful placement in various retail stores

In the outro, Becca and Dom chat about Olipop’s ingenious marketing strategy, which heavily relies on nostalgia. They also reflect on the possibilities they wished they explored further, such as the process of getting Olipop approved for Medicare reimbursements. Lastly, the duo discusses their personal relationships with the soda industry.

If you’re intrigued by these thought-provoking stories from founders, be sure to subscribe to Found for weekly updates.