Elevator Talk showcases up-and-coming food and beverage brands to the industry, giving founders a chance to put their brand in the spotlight and share their story. Meet the founders behind the hottest brands hitting the market and hear their plans to stand out on shelves.
Each episode features a group of brand leaders, the host, and an industry expert, who asks follow-up questions and provides feedback for each entrepreneur.
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Watch previous episodes on our Elevator Talk video playlist.
Heather Beach is the co-founder of Kafina Energy, a company with a mission to fuel, restore and awaken people to the healing power of plants. The brand’s 1 oz energy elixirs are made with organic adaptogenic herbs and are low in caffeine.
Corina Belle-Isle is the founder and president of Corina's Drinking Vinegars, a company that has updated the traditional switchel recipe for the modern beverage consumer. The brand's "Switchy" pairs the functional benefits of apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger and lime juice, with the satisfying mouth feel of a bubbly soda.
Doug Caplan is the co-founder of Back Bay Roasters, a company that delivers HPP cold brew coffee in a variety of formats. The Boston-based brand controls its entire production process including sourcing directly from farmers, roasting and packaging.
Eric Bonin is the founder and CEO of Pillars Yogurt, a company focused on delivering all-natural and low sugar greek yogurt options in a convenient drinkable format. The products contain both prebiotics and probiotics, a differentiator in the yogurt set.
Kris Ravenscroft is the co-founder and CEO of Beauty Gourmet, a company that creates sparkling wellness teas for women. The company's first product line is Glitter Tea, which is sparkling tea that contains ayurvedic ingredients like Amla extract, adaptogens and antioxidants.
Eugene Gross is the co-founder of Altru Brands, a company that delivers premium and functional flavored waters. The products contain a patent pending blend of antioxidants including glutathione, as well as electrolytes and vitamins.
Jeff Chu is the co-founder and CEO of Joy Tea, a brand focused on delivering simple and transparent CBD teas to millennial and older Gen Z consumers. Using clean ingredients and emotion-based branding, the company aims to inspire a feeling, not just deliver a great product.
Straightaway Cocktails co-founder and CEO Cy Cain wants to help people enjoy quality craft cocktails at home and on-the-go. The company launched in 2018 and offers bottled ready-to-drink classic cocktails using house made zest, simple syrups and bitters.
Rachael Young is the founder and CEO of YAYAYA, a beverage company focused on crafting feel-good functional energy drinks made with yaupon and infused with herbs. Described as a tea-like plant, Yaupon is high in caffeine and theobromine, a nootropic identified as a mood booster.
Lefteris Giaprakis is the founder and CEO of Drink Gifted Corp., the creators of mastic elixirs. The company aims to provide healthy and functional botanical beverages utilizing mastic, a fragrant sap from Greece known for its medicinal properties.
Upwell Beverages makes flavored sparkling water infused with broad spectrum hemp extract. Mark Niederhaus is the co-founder of the startup brand, which aims to differentiate with its zero sugar offerings.
Matthew Rich is the founder and CEO of Be Mindful Beverages, a company aiming to provided better options for under served markets, starting with natural energy. Its first product line offers low sugar, organic and clean label energy drinks with sophisticated flavors, caffeine sourced from green tea and antioxidants and vitamins from natural juices and herbs.
Carlos Ponce is the co-founder and CEO of UbU Beverages, a company that offers sparkling functional tonics without any sugar, sweeteners or caffeine. The brand’s energy and hemp tonics deliver antioxidants, prebiotics and electrolytes, aiming to serve the active Gen X consumer.
Julian Hakim is a partner at Agua Rica, a modern aguas frescas brand that aims to bring the traditional Mexican treat to the drink isle in a natural way. The startup brand which launched just four months ago crafts its lineup of beverages using all natural and non-gmo ingredients with real cane sugar.
