“Unlocking the Synergy of Gut Health and Hypergrowth: An Interview 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 tales behind burgeoning startups.

This week, hosts Becca and Dom are joined by Ben Goodwin, the co-founder and CEO of Olipop, a revolutionary soda startup that incorporates probiotics into its low-sugar beverages. Goodwin shares his journey into the soda industry, after previously working with kombucha and recognizing the importance of microbiome health. Goodwin also delves into:

The delicate balance between his role as CEO and creating all of Olipop’s new delectable flavors himself
The challenges of fundraising for a riskier, and highly saturated, consumer category such as beverages
Olipop’s impressive growth and securing a considerable presence in retail stores already

As the episode comes to a close, Dom and Becca discuss the company’s marketing strategy that heavily relies on nostalgia. They also reflect on the additional questions they would have liked to explore, such as the process of getting Olipop approved for Medicare reimbursements. And, they share their personal thoughts on the soda industry in general.

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