Allison Ellsworth

Allison Ellsworth is an American entrepreneur who co-founded Poppi, a prebiotic soda brand that became the second fastest-growing beverage company in history before its $1.95 billion acquisition by PepsiCo in 2025.^[1][3] The company, which she started in her Austin kitchen in 2015 as an apple cider vinegar health drink, grew to $500 million in annual revenue and distribution in 36,000+ retail locations nationwide.^[3][6]

Ellsworth built Poppi into a cultural phenomenon by combining functional wellness ingredients with social media marketing, amassing 1.2 million followers across Instagram and TikTok.^[3] The brand's success was driven by her authentic approach to content creation and positioning Poppi as "the modern soda for the next generation."^[9] She continues to serve as Chief Brand Officer following the PepsiCo acquisition.^[4]

Prior to founding Poppi, Ellsworth worked as a traveling contractor in oil and gas research for seven years after graduating from the University of North Texas with a degree in sociology.^[11][7] She was recognized as EY's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2025 alongside her husband and co-founder Stephen Ellsworth.^[1]

Ellsworth was born in Colorado and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas.^[11] She attended the University of North Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 2009.^[11] During her college years, she took a year off to live in Spain.^[7]

After graduation, Ellsworth worked as a traveling contractor in oil and gas research for seven years, a career that took her across different locations before she settled in Austin, Texas.^[7][11] During this period, she struggled with various health issues including digestive problems, eczema, and fatigue, which would later inspire her to experiment with apple cider vinegar as a health remedy.^[7]

Oil and Gas Research (2009–2015)

Following her graduation from the University of North Texas, Ellsworth began working as a traveling contractor in oil and gas research.^[7] She spent seven years in this role, working across different locations before eventually settling in Austin, Texas.^[11]

Poppi (2015–present)

In 2015, Ellsworth co-founded what would become Poppi with her husband Stephen after experimenting with apple cider vinegar drinks in their Austin kitchen to address her health issues.^[3][7] The company was originally named Mother Beverage and focused on creating a palatable way to consume apple cider vinegar for its purported health benefits.^[10]

The couple initially sold their product at farmers markets and local stores in Austin.^[7] In 2018, while nine months pregnant, Ellsworth appeared on Shark Tank, where the company secured a deal with Rohan Oza.^[2][7] She gave birth just 10 days after filming the episode.^[7]

The company rebranded from Mother Beverage to Poppi in 2020, positioning itself as a prebiotic soda that combines fruit juice, apple cider vinegar, and prebiotics with only 5 grams of sugar and 25 calories per can.^[10] Ellsworth led the brand's marketing strategy, building a significant social media presence through authentic content creation on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.^[3]

Under Ellsworth's leadership as Chief Brand Officer, Poppi raised $40 million across multiple funding rounds, including a $13.5 million Series A led by CAVU Ventures in 2021.^[9][12] The company achieved distribution in over 36,000 retail locations nationwide and reached $500 million in annual revenue by 2024.^[3][6]

In 2025, PepsiCo acquired Poppi for $1.95 billion gross ($1.65 billion net), making it one of the largest beverage acquisitions in recent years.^[3] Ellsworth continues to serve as Chief Brand Officer under PepsiCo ownership, maintaining creative control over the brand's direction.^[4]

Ellsworth has received multiple industry recognitions for her entrepreneurial achievements. In 2025, she and her husband Stephen were named EY's Entrepreneur of the Year for building Poppi into the second fastest-growing beverage brand in history.^[1] That same year, BevNET named her Person of the Year for her role as the driving force behind Poppi's success.^[8]

She was included in Inc. Magazine's Female Founders 250 list in 2024 and recognized on Austin Woman Magazine's Change Makers List for her local business impact.^[2] Ellsworth has appeared on major podcasts including How I Built This with Guy Raz, where she discussed the company's journey from farmers market vendor to billion-dollar acquisition.^[7]

Ellsworth is married to Stephen Ellsworth, her co-founder and business partner at Poppi.^[1] The couple has three sons and resides in Austin, Texas.^[7] She has been open about her health struggles that initially led to experimenting with apple cider vinegar, including digestive issues, eczema, and chronic fatigue.^[7]

Ellsworth has spoken about nearly quitting the business multiple times during its early stages, crediting her persistence and willingness to trust her instincts when others couldn't see the vision as key factors in Poppi's eventual success.^[2][7]