#209 Patrick Mahomes-Backed Sports Drink Company BioSteel Files For Bankruptcy
Sep 22, 2023
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Discussing the bankruptcy of BioSteel sports drink company backed by Patrick Mahomes and other top athletes, analyzing the challenges faced in the market. Explore the rise and fall of BioSteel, its financial turmoil, and the impact of influencer marketing strategies. Insights on athlete investments and the risks of relying solely on star endorsements for business success.
BioSteel faced financial challenges despite athlete backing and distribution deals.
Acquisition by Canopy Growth and market competition led to BioSteel's bankruptcy.
Deep dives
Bio-Steel's Rise and Fall
Bio-Steel, a Canadian sports drink company, gained prominence with backing from athletes like Patrick Mahomes and endorsement deals with top sports personalities such as Luca Doncic and Connor McDavid. Founded by former NHL player Mike Camillary, Bio-Steel aimed to offer a healthier alternative to traditional sports drinks by providing products with fewer additives. Initially successful, the company secured distribution deals and impressive athlete endorsements, but ultimately faced financial challenges leading to bankruptcy.
Canopy Growth Acquisition and Business Struggles
Bio-Steel's acquisition by Canopy Growth in 2019 aimed to diversify the cannabis company's portfolio into sports nutrition, but the sports drink market domination by Gatorade, Body Armor, and Powerade posed significant obstacles. Despite significant investments in athlete partnerships, Bio-Steel continued to incur losses, with Canopy Growth reporting a $273 million investment loss and monthly expenditure of $11.2 million. Efforts to find buyers failed, leading to bankruptcy filing and employee layoffs.
Athlete Endorsements and Financial Implications
Bio-Steel's bankruptcy impacted not only employees but also athletes and sports organizations, with the NHL, Los Angeles Lakers, and other partners listed as creditors owed significant amounts. Athletes like Andrew Wiggins and investors like Patrick Mahomes faced financial losses, highlighting the risks of endorsing and investing in businesses. The episode underscores the challenges of competing in the sports drink market against established brands like Gatorade, emphasizing the need for aligned incentives and effective business strategies for sustained success.
Canadian sports drink company BioSteel filed for bankruptcy this past Thursday, Sept. 14. The move was a shock across sports as the upstart company had backing from Patrick Mahomes as well as sponsorship deals with the NHL, LA Lakers, Luka Doncic, and more. So, how did this all happen? This podcast will break down the details. Enjoy!
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