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🟢TechCrunch M&A
March 11, 2026
Acquisitions & M&A

Poppi founder on TikTok, Super Bowl ads, and her return to Shark Tank

Overview

In a TechCrunch Equity video, Poppi co-founder Allison Ellsworth explains how she turned a kitchen experiment into a $1.95 billion PepsiCo acquisition. She covers pitching on Shark Tank, going viral on TikTok, buying a last-minute Super Bowl ad, and returning to Shark Tank as a guest investor. The piece sets Poppi against long-standing venture skepticism toward beverage startups.

Key Takeaways

  • Watch as Poppi's co-founder breaks down how she turned a kitchen experiment into a $1.95 billion PepsiCo acquisition, from pitching on Shark Tank to going viral on TikTok and returning as a guest Shark herself.

    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, 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 going viral on TikTok and buying a last-minute Super Bowl ad, Ellsworth breaks down what it really takes to build a category-defining consumer brand - and what she looks for now that she's back on Shark Tank as an investor herself.
  • Theresa Loconsolo is an audio producer at TechCrunch focusing on Equity, the network's flagship podcast.

    Before joining TechCrunch in 2022, she was one of 2 producers at a four-station conglomerate where she wrote, recorded, voiced and edited content, and engineered live performances and interviews from guests like lovelytheband.

  • Through candid fireside chats and high-impact networking, you'll walk away with valuable insights and new connections.

Stats & Key Facts

  • #In a TechCrunch Equity video, Poppi co-founder Allison Ellsworth explains how she turned a kitchen experiment into a $1.95 billion PepsiCo acquisition.
  • #Watch as Poppi's co-founder breaks down how she turned a kitchen experiment into a $1.95 billion PepsiCo acquisition, from pitching on Shark Tank to going viral on TikTok and returning as a guest Shark herself.
  • #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 .

Watch as Poppi's co-founder breaks down how she turned a kitchen experiment into a $1.95 billion PepsiCo acquisition, from pitching on Shark Tank to going viral on TikTok and returning as a guest Shark herself. 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, 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 going viral on TikTok and buying a last-minute Super Bowl ad, Ellsworth breaks down what it really takes to build a category-defining consumer brand - and what she looks for now that she's back on Shark Tank as an investor herself.

You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. Theresa Loconsolo is an audio producer at TechCrunch focusing on Equity, the network's flagship podcast. Before joining TechCrunch in 2022, she was one of 2 producers at a four-station conglomerate where she wrote, recorded, voiced and edited content, and engineered live performances and interviews from guests like lovelytheband.

For more details please read the original article at TechCrunch M&A.

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