How Poppi’s Austin-Based Founders Journeyed From the Farmers Market to a $1.95 Billion-Dollar Brand
From viral TikToks to "Shark Tank" and beyond, Allison and Stephen Ellsworth’s modern soda brand went from homemade to household name
Even if Poppi hasn’t become a staple in your fridge, it is likely already present in your world through viral TikTok videos, billboard ad campaigns, fashion collaborations at Target, appearances on “Shark Tank” and larger-than-life Super Bowl commercials. Poppi, a modern soda designed for a health-conscious generation, made headlines again in March 2025 when PepsiCo acquired it for $1.95 billion.
Behind the splashy numbers and colorful cans are Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, the Austin-based couple whose grassroots journey started with a gut feeling.
Bubbly beginnings
The Ellsworths’ love story, family growth and business journey all intertwine.
“We met at the mall,” shares Stephen.
“He asked me if I wanted to get ice cream,” adds Allison. “We started hanging out and fell in love quickly.”
Allison was working on the road in the oil and gas industry but always dreamed of being an entrepreneur. After experiencing persistent health issues that doctors brushed off, she took matters into her own hands and sought natural remedies.
“I found apple cider vinegar, and it changed my life, but I hated the taste so I started making it taste better at home by adding sparkling water and fruit,” she explains. “I spent months experimenting.”
With Stephen as her “guinea pig,” Allison’s first flavor was Raspberry Rose, using real rose petals. The couple moved to Dallas to start a family, and Allison began selling the bottled drink under the brand name Mother Beverage at a local farmers’ market. Within three weeks, Whole Foods Market discovered the brand.
The right connections, the right time
At the farmers market, Allison met Kelly Landrieu, a buyer from Whole Foods Market who happened to be visiting from Austin.
Landrieu, principal planner for local & emerging brands, shares, “Poppi, then called Mother Beverage, was different than anything I’d seen before. I could see it in the micro-economy of the Dallas Farmers Market — their booth was so swamped I couldn’t see what was on the table until I made my way through the crowd surrounding it. Later, after landing on Whole Foods Market shelves and doing well in their first year, they proved themselves to be savvy founders.”
Allison adds that after Landrieu got involved, things moved quickly. “We went all in — quit our jobs, bought a house and got pregnant, all in one month. We invested about $90,000 and opened our own manufacturing facility in Dallas.”
In 2018, while Allison was nine months pregnant, the couple appeared on “Shark Tank,” where they struck a deal with Rohan Oza and changed the name of their original brand to something a little more playful — Poppi.
“It’s a nod to soda pop,” Allison explains. “It felt fun, bright and energetic. We wanted a brand, not just a product.”
Poppi takes off
The newly branded Poppi launched in March 2020, days before the world shut down due to COVID-19. Despite the challenging timing, the circumstances ultimately worked in their favor. With health and wellness at the top of mind for consumers, who were also spending more time at home online, Poppi skyrocketed. A “Shark Tank” segment featuring an update on Poppi’s business aired in April 2020, and the brand hit the top of Amazon’s Hot New Products list in just its second month of business.
When asked about their quick rise to fame, Stephen notes, “We had no choice. We invested everything. We’re both super optimistic. There was no option but to win.”
TikTok also became critical to their success. Poppi leaned in as early adopters of the platform, setting them apart at the time.
“Our brand values transparency and keeping it real, which aligns with TikTok’s vibe,” explains Allison in regards to using the social media platform as a marketing strategy. “It helped us build a community. I filmed TikToks at home… taco recipes, dances… and nothing worked at first. Then, I sat down and told our story, and it went viral. $100,000 in Amazon sales overnight. Our board was shocked.”
From there came partnerships with Target and Walmart and the creation of an entirely new grocery category — modern soda.
Austin-based, national reach
Despite their digital reach and global fame, the Ellsworths are quick to emphasize their Austin pride. The city’s entrepreneurial energy, community values and creative spirit helped shape their approach, particularly as they balanced business with raising a family of three young boys.
“Austin is a great place to own a business,” says Stephen. “It’s where we feel most at home, and it’s become part of our story.”
“I love that we can be examples of entrepreneurs who are still just a normal mom and dad,” adds Allison. “It’s really important to show our kids that you can be successful, work hard, stay grounded and be kind. They’ve seen our success, but we’re still at the baseball and soccer games every weekend.”
Allison recently joined the lineup of “Dancing with the Stars Austin,” a charity event benefiting the Center for Child Protection, to give back and deepen her roots in the city.
Building a legacy
As for what’s next, the PepsiCo acquisition signals a new phase, not a departure. Allison will remain closely involved, advising on creative strategies.
“It’s like sending our child to college, but we still need to be there to guide it,” explains the entrepreneur, noting her excitement that they will still “continue to just be Poppi… with one of the best distribution systems underneath us.”
Though the Pepsi acquisition and a now-settled lawsuit over prebiotic content may have drawn some scrutiny, for Allison and Stephen, it represents a powerful step forward in bringing their vision to life.
“We want Poppi to be the soda for our kids and grandkids,” says Allison.
“People often ask why we sold to Pepsi, and honestly, this is what we always wanted to do,” adds Stephen. “This is our opportunity to make a positive global change. What better legacy than creating a soda for the next generation that people feel good about?”
Despite the PepsiCo sale, the soda itself will remain unchanged. “Same formula,” Allison confirms that the ingredients will stay the same. “I just want people to trust this next stage and know we’ll continue to be Poppi.”
The Poppi story is still unfolding, with the Ellsworths showing no signs of slowing down.
“It really is the ‘American Dream,’” concludes Allison. “I know that sounds crazy, but our story defines it… kitchen to farmers’ market to ‘Shark Tank’ to retail to now this next stage.”
Cover Photoshoot Credits:
- Creative Director: Heidi Okla
- Photographer: Kaity Cox
- Assistant Photographer: Sia Arora
- Makeup Artist: Marisa Warren
- Hair Stylist: David Wilkins
- Assistant Wardrobe Stylist: Meredith Vaughn
- Wardrobe & Jewelry courtesy of: Alice + Olivia on Music Lane, Korman Fine Jewelry, Zadok Jewelers
- Location: Downright Austin Hotel & Swim Club
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