It’s time to reveal the semifinalists for BevNET’s signature pitch competition, the New Beverage Showdown, taking place at BevNET Live NYC on June 10 + 11.
This year’s New Beverage Showdown, presented by Coca-Cola North America’s New Revenue Streams unit, showcases a dynamic group of emerging brands pushing beverage innovation in new directions. From functional hydration and protein water to modern matcha, sparkling energy, non-alcoholic cocktails, hemp-derived beverages and culturally inspired refreshment, the semifinalists reflect the breadth of opportunity shaping today’s beverage landscape.
Founders from 12 emerging beverage brands will compete in the semifinal round of the New Beverage Showdown, taking place on Wednesday, June 10. The entrepreneurs will share their business strategies and products with a panel of expert judges for immediate feedback. A group of six finalists will be chosen to pitch for the winning title, which will take place on Thursday, June 11.
Now, let’s meet the players…
The New Beverage Showdown semifinalists are:
- Brause: Brause makes premium, health-conscious German craft beverages with elevated flavors, natural sweetness and zero alcohol, including sparkling apple and malt-inspired varieties.
- Cabu Latte: Cabu makes plant-based ready-to-drink lattes that blend cold brew coffee with the creamy essence of cacao, delivering a smooth coffee-and-chocolate experience without dairy or oats.
- Dad Grass: Dad Grass offers low-dose THC beverages and other hemp-derived products positioned as a mellow, adult alternative for relaxation and leisure.
- Dirty Virgo: Dirty Virgo makes low-calorie, low-sugar, electrolyte-enhanced non-alcoholic cocktails, including takes on a margarita, ginger mule and Italian spritz.
- Disco Fizz: Disco Fizz is a sparkling energy beverage brand designed for social occasions, combining sensory flavors with organic green tea caffeine and natural electrolytes.
- Flying Ostrich: Flying Ostrich makes sparkling daily hydration beverages with balanced electrolytes, ocean minerals and low sugar, designed for busy workdays, travel and everyday life.
- Gingerbug: Gingerbug makes organic ginger sodas using real organic ginger juice, with prebiotic functionality and lower-sugar formulations sweetened with organic cane sugar.
- Lemonday: Lemonday upgrades lemon water with electrolytes and prebiotics, offering low-calorie, no-added-sugar hydration made with real lemon juice and clean ingredients.
- LYFLO: LYFLO makes ready-to-drink protein water with 10g of protein, electrolytes and vitamins in a light, juice-like format designed for hydration and recovery without the heaviness of traditional protein drinks.
- Purple Drop: Purple Drop reimagines chicha morada, the traditional Peruvian purple corn drink, in a crisp, refreshing format made with purple corn, fruit and warm spices.
- Shinzo Matcha: Shinzo Matcha makes convenient matcha drinks featuring ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha blended with ingredients like dark chocolate, honey and vanilla for an easy, alertness-supporting sip.
- Umma Juice: Umma Juice makes Korean-inspired juice beverages with 0g added sugar, prebiotic fiber, vitamins and organic ingredients, designed as an upgraded juice option for families.
In addition to being the star of the show, the winner of New Beverage Showdown will be awarded a $10,000 awareness-building advertising package from BevNET. Past victors include Poppi, Health-Ade, MALK, and Cann, among many others.
Watch the competition and meet the players at BevNET Live. With hundreds of industry professionals already registered and just three weeks until the event, now is the time to secure your spot. Check out the growing attendee list to see who you can meet.
Register for BevNET Live NYC >>
About BevNET Live
BevNET Live is the beverage industry’s premier event, bringing together brands, distributors, retailers, investors, and service providers to explore what’s ahead for the industry. Featuring top-tier speakers and the fan-favorite New Beverage Showdown, each event draws hundreds of brands from across the country.