# How Poppi went from a Shark Tank pitch to a $1.95B exit

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/equity-55848/how-poppi-went-from-a-shark-tank-pitch-to-a-1-95b-exit
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/equity-55848/how-poppi-went-from-a-shark-tank-pitch-to-a-1-95b-exit.md
Podcast: [Equity](https://stenobird.com/podcast/equity-55848)
Published: 2026-03-11T17:05:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/TCML7113213992.mp3?updated=1773249112
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/TCML7113213992.mp3?updated=1773249112
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/equity-55848/episodes/how-poppi-went-from-a-shark-tank-pitch-to-a-1-95b-exit
Duration seconds: 1678

## Resource

For years, venture capitalists have been skeptical of beverage startups, citing thin margins and brutal distribution as reasons most brands never break out. But a new wave of “functional soda” companies has been challenging that assumption, including Poppi, the prebiotic soda brand that grew from a kitchen experiment into a $1.95 billion acquisition by PepsiCo. On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Rebecca Bellan is joined by Poppi co-founder Allison Ellsworth to talk about building a beverage startup in a venture world dominated by SaaS and AI. From pitching on Shark Tank while nine months pregnant to scaling a digital-first brand during COVID, and now returning as a Shark herself, Ellsworth shares how social media, fast marketing bets, and customer feedback helped turn a niche drink into a category-defining company. Listen to the full episode to hear about: Ellsworth’s Shark Tank return, and how she evaluates founders on the other side of the pitch. How Ellsworth turned a personal health issue into Poppi and built early traction at farmers' markets. Why TikTok and community-driven marketing helped the brand rack up billions of views and loyal fans. The risky decision to buy a last-minute Super Bowl ad, and how the team executed it in days. What it’s like selling a startup to PepsiCo while trying to preserve the brand’s identity. Why beverage startups almost inevitably need acquisition-level distribution to scale. Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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