Poppi Founders: Disrupting the Beverage Industry

Feb 3, 2026

Stephen Ellsworth, co-founder who built Poppi’s flavors and operations, and Allison Ellsworth, co-founder who shaped the brand from farmers markets to national fame. They trace a kitchen experiment into a digital-first, culture-driven beverage success. Topics include flavor obsession, rapid scaling via Amazon and TikTok, a surprise Super Bowl ad, and preparing Poppi for a strategic sale.

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ANECDOTE

Kitchen Experiment To Whole Foods Pickup

Allison turned an apple cider vinegar cure from an elimination diet into a farmers-market product that attracted Whole Foods within weeks.
She launched Poppi from mason jars, invested life savings, and went on Shark Tank nine months pregnant.

ANECDOTE

Last-Minute Flavor Overhaul

Stephen obsessively reworked Poppi's flavors days before Shark Tank and secretly added sugar to improve taste.
That last-minute formula change delivered the product that secured their Shark Tank deal.

INSIGHT

Pandemic Forced A Digital-First Breakthrough

Expo West cancellation forced Poppi to be digital-first from day one and pivot onto Amazon and TikTok.
That digital strategy produced huge reach, including billions of TikTok views and rapid national awareness.

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Poppi began as a kitchen experiment with apple cider vinegar and has grown into a leading beverage brand, which was recently acquired by PepsiCo for nearly $2 billion. Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, co-founders of Poppi, joined Vanya Kasanof to share the brand’s journey to becoming a digital-first sensation and a category leader. They discuss Poppi’s rapid rise, the power of intuition and culture, and how a relentless focus on brand and community propelled them from farmers markets to a landmark Super Bowl ad. This session was recorded at the 2025 Goldman Sachs Builders and Innovators Summit on October 15, 2025.

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