OLIPOP is owned by co-founders Ben Goodwin and David Lester, alongside institutional investors led by J.P. Morgan Private Capital. The Oakland-based prebiotic soda brand reached a $1.85 billion valuation after its Series C funding round in February 2025 and crossed $400 million in annual revenue.
Key Stats
- OLIPOP recorded $400 million in annual revenue during 2024, doubling year-over-year performance.
- The company reached a $1.85 billion valuation after closing its Series C round in February 2025.
- OLIPOP holds approximately 60% of the global prebiotic and probiotic soda market according to TapTwice Digital.
- Products are sold in nearly 50,000 retail locations across the United States as of 2025.
- The brand received B Corp certification in July 2023 with a score of 91.
OLIPOP Funding Rounds (in millions USD)
Who Owns OLIPOP?
Ben Goodwin serves as CEO and co-founder, retaining significant equity. David Lester moved from his operating role to an advisory board seat in early 2025 after the Series C raise.
J.P. Morgan Private Capital’s Growth Equity Partners led the $50 million Series C round in February 2025. Monogram Capital Partners led the 2020 Series A and the 2022 Series B, which valued the company at $200 million. Celebrity backers joined the cap table during Series B, producing a multi-tier shareholder mix similar to other founder-led private companies.
OLIPOP Origin, Founders and Early Years
Ben Goodwin’s Path
Goodwin developed his first beverage after leaving a kombucha company in 2008. He invested $300,000 of personal savings into Obi, a probiotic soft drink, working with a microbiologist in a Santa Cruz lab.
Partnership and Launch
Goodwin met David Lester at a coffee shop in 2013. Lester had left Diageo after nearly a decade in beverage marketing roles. The partners sold Obi in 2016 and used $100,000 from the sale to fund OLIPOP, which launched in 2018 with three flavors. First-year revenue reached $852,000, kicking off a growth curve closer to fast-scaling private startups than legacy beverage brands.
Largest Shareholders of OLIPOP
J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners
- Anchored the $50 million Series C round in February 2025
- Managing Partner Christopher Dawe joined the board
- First major position in the functional beverage category
Monogram Capital Partners
- Led the 2019 seed round, 2020 Series A, and 2022 Series B
- Partner Jared Stein joined the board in 2020
- Beverly Hills-based consumer and retail focused firm
Founder Equity
- Ben Goodwin retains significant ownership as CEO
- David Lester holds an advisory board stake from 2025
- Exact percentages remain undisclosed
Celebrity and Strategic Investors
- Indra Nooyi, former PepsiCo CEO, participated in Series B
- Gwyneth Paltrow, Mindy Kaling, Camila Cabello, Logic
- The Jonas Brothers and Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Who Is on the Board of Directors for OLIPOP?
Executive Leadership
Ben Goodwin — CEO and Co-Founder
Oversees product formulation, company strategy, and scientific partnerships with microbiome researchers. Continues to develop every flavor himself.
Mel Landis — President (November 2024)
The 36-year beverage industry veteran previously served as Chief Customer Officer at BodyArmor Sports Nutrition and held senior positions at Coca-Cola for 15 years.
Finance and Operations
Tracy Hart — Chief Financial Officer
Brings experience from True Botanicals and Method Products. Holds an MBA from Xavier University and oversees financial planning, cost management, and ERP implementations.
Investor Representatives and Advisors
Christopher Dawe — J.P. Morgan
Managing Partner at J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners. Joined the board as part of the February 2025 Series C transaction.
Jared Stein — Monogram Capital
Partner at Monogram Capital. Joined OLIPOP’s board following the Series A investment, providing strategic guidance during expansion.
David Lester — Advisory Board (2025)
Co-founder who transitioned from his operating role to an advisory seat. Continues to provide marketing and brand strategy guidance.
OLIPOP Products and Services
Core Beverage Line
- Over 17 flavors including Vintage Cola, Strawberry Vanilla, Cherry Vanilla, Root Beer, Orange Cream
- Each can contains 9 grams of prebiotic fiber and 2 to 5 grams of sugar
- Refrigerated 9g fiber and shelf-stable 6g fiber formats
OLISMART Formula
- Cassava root fiber, chicory root inulin, Jerusalem artichoke inulin
- Botanical extracts: nopal cactus, marshmallow root, calendula flower, kudzu root
- Sweetened with cassava root syrup and stevia leaf
Recent Launches
- Shirley Temple flavor in January 2026, timed with Dry January
- Barbie-themed Peaches and Cream in 2024
- SpongeBob SquarePants Pineapple Paradise in 2025
Distribution and Retail
- Sold at Target, Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Whole Foods Market, Starbucks
- Subscription service delivering customized flavor boxes
- Nearly 50,000 retail locations across the United States
OLIPOP Mission Statement
OLIPOP exists to facilitate human health and enrichment in service of a functioning society. The company creates empirically informed, health-forward products at scale through formats that deliver experiential rewards.
Grounded in microbiome science, OLIPOP partners with global gut health experts to translate research into commercial product development. The mission covers people, product, science, corporate citizenship, and messaging.
OLIPOP earned B Corp certification in July 2023 with a score of 91. The company operates as a Public Benefit Corporation, legally required to weigh stakeholder interests during decisions. This structure protects the mission during growth and any future ownership shift, a pattern explored across other consumer brand ownership analyses on Quantumrun.
How Did OLIPOP Get Its Name?
The brand name combines oligosaccharide and pop. Oligosaccharides are the prebiotic fiber that supports digestive health, while pop refers to the American term for carbonated beverages.
Ben Goodwin and David Lester picked this portmanteau to communicate functional health benefits while keeping a connection to classic soda culture. The naming choice emphasized accessibility rather than clinical terminology.
The founders wanted consumers to recognize the beverage as a familiar soda alternative without needing a detailed explanation of prebiotic ingredients. The approach matched their goal of bringing digestive health products into the mainstream, in contrast to the heritage-driven naming seen in older American food brands.
FAQs
What is the net worth of OLIPOP?
OLIPOP carries a valuation of $1.85 billion following its $50 million Series C funding round closed in February 2025. The figure was confirmed by J.P. Morgan Private Capital and reported by Bloomberg, CNBC, and Inc.
When did OLIPOP come out?
OLIPOP launched in 2018 with three flavors: Ginger Lemon, Strawberry Vanilla, and Cinnamon Cola. The brand sold to 40 Northern California grocery stores in year one and recorded $852,000 in first-year revenue.
Who owns OLIPOP?
Co-founders Ben Goodwin and David Lester own OLIPOP alongside institutional backers led by J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners and Monogram Capital Partners. Celebrity investors hold smaller stakes acquired during the 2022 Series B round.
OLIPOP market cap in 2026
OLIPOP remains privately held in 2026 with no public market cap. Its last private valuation stood at $1.85 billion from February 2025, which the company described as its final anticipated equity round.
Is OLIPOP still operational?
Yes. OLIPOP reached profitability in early 2024 and continues to expand. The company crossed $400 million in revenue during 2024, launched Shirley Temple flavor in January 2026, and operates in nearly 50,000 retail locations.
