Organic protein beverage maker Orgain announced yesterday the first recipients of its new Grants for Greater Good program, which provides funds to startup brands with health and wellness oriented missions.
The three winning startups include kolanut fruit-based energy drink Bissy, non-dairy ice cream maker Hakuna Brands and IncludeHealth, a maker of fitness equipment for the disabled and elderly. Each company will receive $50,000.
In an email, Orgain founder and CEO Andrew Abraham said the “inaugural” grant program, which began in February, was created to help promote Orgain’s own mission of promoting healthy lifestyles by financially supporting similar, early stage brands. The winners were chosen from a list of six finalists and selected through a public vote on social media.
“I think a commonality between all of these brands is that their origin stories all started with solving a problem, personal or otherwise, that could then go on to help a broader swath of people live more fully through preventative health,” Abraham said. “I’m a fan of all three of these winners based on their passion to reinvent fitness and nutrition — offering innovative and enhanced products for the greater good.”
Abraham said Orgain will work with the brands going forward to offer strategic advice and open up networking opportunities.
Founded in 2018, Bissy makes an energy drink using Nigerian-sourced kolanut fruit and ginger. The single product contains 25 calories, 6 grams of natural dark brown sugar and 160 mg of caffeine per 3.4 oz. bottle. The brand is available online direct-to-consumer for $36.99 per 10-pack. As well, the company is looking to launch additional products in new formats later this year.
Bissy co-founders Hames Swinyard and Zach En’Wezoh said the grant will allow the company to receive Fair Trade certification, a move that will go towards the brand’s mission of supporting West African agriculture.
“Fair Trade certifications present a tremendous opportunity for us to help facilitate the growth and global recognition of Nigeria’s agriculture sector and de-risk the industry for potential future investors,” Swinyard and En’Wezoh said in an email. “By supporting our smallholder kolanut farmers in rural Nigeria with U.S. certifications such as Fair Trade, we can help secure new sales channels for them to sell their supply at a premium price, which will help limit the risk of price volatility in their international supply chains.”
Hakuna Brands was founded in 2019 and makes a line of plant-based “(N)ice Creams” made from bananas and oats as well as frozen dessert bars. Currently available in select Raley’s locations in California, the company intends to use the grant to expand its nationwide distribution.
On its banana-based line, Hakuna offers flavors including Banana Spice, “Banilla,” “Choco Choco Chip,” Cashew Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Chip and Strawberry. Its oat line includes “Real Real Chocolate,” “Peanut Butter Monster” and “Plain Jane” varieties. Each product is available in 1 pint containers.
A fitness and technology company, IncludeHealth will use its grant to install its products at a wellness center in Columbus, Ohio.