Beverage News
Koia Expands Plant-Based Beverage Platform
Koia a fast-growing manufacturer of fresh, plant-based protein beverages, announced today that it has closed on $7.5 million of Series Seed capital in a funding round led by KarpReilly, alongside existing institutional investor AccelFoods.
Southern California-based Koia produces refrigerated, ready-to-drink, plant-based protein beverages that are soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. A proprietary blend of brown rice, hemp, and pea proteins is at the heart of Koia’s recipe, creating an honest, craveable beverage that boasts an unrivaled 5-to-1 ratio of plant protein to sugar content.
This round of funding will be used to expand Koia’s team, support the brand’s rapid retail expansion, and launch a multi-region field marketing campaign. As part of this Series Seed round Bill Moses, the founder of Kevita (sold to PepsiCo in 2016), will join Koia’s board of directors.
“We are honored and fortunate to have partners like KarpReilly, AccelFoods, and Bill Moses support our company so early in its life cycle. Their support, alongside the powerful consumer response that we’ve witnessed during our nationwide rollout at Whole Foods Market and with retailers like Wegmans, is validating,” said Chris Hunter, CEO, Koia.
“It is a testament to how strongly people value simple, natural, transparent products that don’t force them to compromise on flavor. We are excited to continue to innovate and expand on our mission to power people through plants.”
“We are incredibly excited to partner with Chris and the rest of the Koia team,” said Allan Karp, co-founder of KarpReilly. “We rarely encounter a business that so early on has so clearly resonated with both retailers and consumers alike. Combined with an experienced and talented group of management, advisors, and co-investors we are confident that Koia is well positioned to become a category leader.”
Added Jordan Gaspar, AccelFoods co-founder and managing partner, “We are thrilled to further invest in Koia and the company’s vision of a plant-based future. Chris Hunter is a proven leader capable of building a world-class management team to grow this innovative next-generation brand. The consumer appetite for plant-based protein is only beginning. We could not be prouder to have partnered with Koia, Bill Moses, and KarpReilly, partners with proven track records of building innovative beverage platforms.”
Source: Kois
