Allison Ellsworth clarifies that their acquisition by Pepsi was a complete sale of all equity rather than a staged earnout or executive retention deal.
“What a lot of people don't realize is we sold 100% of the company. A lot of times you'll do a two-step deal where if it was probably, I would say if it was that situation, we would have stayed in our roles and kept going. But you don't sell your company for two billion dollars and then say, hey, here's your Pepsi employee badge.”
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More from Allison Ellsworth
Insight
Ellsworth: An IPO Cannot Solve Beverage Brands' Distribution Needs
“And then yes, there's the option to go IPO, but then you don't have a distribution partner. So it's just a really tough situation to be in, in beverage.”
Allison EllsworthMay 1, 2026▶ 31:44Poppi's Founders: Building a $2 billion soda brand | Masters of Scale
AssertionSupported
Allison Ellsworth: Pepsi Acquired Poppi for $1.95 Billion
“1.95 billion dollars.”
Allison EllsworthMay 1, 2026▶ 32:33Poppi's Founders: Building a $2 billion soda brand | Masters of Scale
Insight
Allison Ellsworth: Solo founders should treat their first hire like a co-founder
“I think it would be really hard to do it as a solo entrepreneur, right? The highs are so much higher, but the lows you actually have like support. And so like, I think that if you don't have a co-founder, find someone, your first hire is probably going to be b…”
Allison EllsworthMay 1, 2026▶ 9:47Poppi's Founders: Building a $2 billion soda brand | Masters of Scale
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Ellsworth: Shark Tank actively works to match contestants with relevant sharks
“Contrary to what people believe, like, the show wants you to get a deal, and they do a lot of work in the back end to actually try to match you up.”
Allison EllsworthMay 1, 2026▶ 17:43Poppi's Founders: Building a $2 billion soda brand | Masters of Scale
Insight
Better-for-you beverage brands traditionally build hub density in New York and LA
“Because a lot in beverage, if you think about it, are really in a lot of better for you products. They grow really big in New York and LA. And those are your hubs, and those are your big markets, and you really focus on it.”
Allison EllsworthMay 1, 2026▶ 22:41Poppi's Founders: Building a $2 billion soda brand | Masters of Scale
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Allison Ellsworth: Early viral TikTok generated $100K in Amazon sales overnight
“Honestly, what worked is one night I sat down, it was a Friday night, I just got in the shower, my hair is wet, and I just told my story. And it connected on such another level that it went viral, did a million views while we're sleeping. We did a 100,000 doll…”
Allison EllsworthMay 1, 2026▶ 23:40Poppi's Founders: Building a $2 billion soda brand | Masters of Scale
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