Olipop Cofounder Explains How His Daily Routine Helped Him Make More Than $200 Million in Revenue

By: Mark Smith | Published: Dec 28, 2023

Olipop’s co-founder, Ben Goodwin, is a college dropout who’s played a significant role in creating a gut-healthy soda on track to bring in over $200 million in revenue this year.

Goodwin claims his history as an overweight teen during his school years inspired him to co-create the popular beverages that offer Americans healthier alternatives to traditional soda.

Not Your Average Mixologist

Goodwin claims that much of his success comes from having a balanced routine that allows him to make the most of his time each day.

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Ben Goodwin smiles with folded arms as he poses for a photo in Olipop lab

Source: @KSVYsonoma/Twitter

While the general population may find themselves watching Netflix come sundown, the Olipop founder will be in his laundry room working on the next flavor for his healthy soda brand. So far, he has created over 20 flavors.

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Goodwin Questions American Diets' Effect on the Microbiome

Goodwin, raised on a standard American Diet, was considered overweight during childhood. He also suffered from anxiety and, overall, wasn’t living a happy life.

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Two sides of the typical American diet; one side full of processed foods and the other healthier alternatives

Source: Freepik

However, at 15, he decided to make a dramatic change and became a vegetarian. Sometime after, Goodwin claims to have noticed significant improvements in his mental health, which led him down a path of studying the microbiome and its effects on the body.

Goodwin Begins Working on Fermented Products

Goodwin eventually decided to drop out of college and began working on products that would support a healthy gut.

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Couple work together on trying out fermentation recipes in their home

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Around 20 years ago, Goodwin began his first company, Kombucha Botanica, with a friend. They created six unique flavors and gained plenty of experience along the way, which would help him with projects in the future.

The Beginning of Olipop

Goodwin’s next major creation came in 2008 when he started the Obi Probiotic Soda company. He worked on this project, which featured a water kefir drink, for eight years until he decided to leave the company in 2016.

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Woman with orange painted nails holds a can of Olipop’s vintage cola flavor

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Luckily for Goodwin, he made the right decision, as this freed up all of his time, which led to the creation of Olipop in 2018. The popular beverage is estimated to bring in over $200 million this year alone.

Flavors For Everyone

The Olipop founder spends a significant amount of time ensuring that he creates the perfect blend of flavors for his gut-friendly beverages.

Model poses for a photoshoot beside shelves of Olipop beverages

Source: @CamilaCColOfi/Twitter

Throughout his long career, Goodwin has created more than 30 flavors for his probiotic drinks, 20 of which are currently on sale with Olipop.

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New Flavors Soon to Hit the Market

During the company’s earlier years, Goodwin revealed he would work in the lab until the early hours of the morning every day of the week.

Numerous flavors of Olipop beverages pictured on supermarket shelves

Source: @ursamaker/Twitter

Now, he prefers to plan out a new formula in his head and ensure that it fits with his brand before he begins the hands-on work in the lab. “Blackberry Vanilla and Orange Cream are waiting in the wings and are in circulation,” Goodwin reveals.

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Olipop Popularity Increases Drastically in 2023

Over the past year, due to a solid social media presence on apps such as TikTok, Olipop drinks have been flying off the supermarket shelves.

Three unique Olipop flavors, Ginger Ale, Classic Root Beer, and Classic Grape, pictured together inside a consumer’s refrigerator

Olipop Cans In Refrigerator

Olipop was valued at approximately $199.8 million last January, according to PitchBook.

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Goodwin Places Special Reverence on Health

While the idea of Olipop is to help everyday Americans make healthier choices, Goowin also practices what he preaches and aims to live a healthy lifestyle.

Man pictured stretching before he begins a run alongside the beach

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The founder of the gut-healthy brand gave Fortune a look into how he spends his days and what practices bring him the mental strength and clarity to continue to craft unique drink flavors.

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Starting the Morning with a Sauna

Goodwin wakes up around 6.30 a.m. every morning and has an ice bath accompanied by a sauna.

A man wrapped in a white towel sits on a wooden bench inside a sauna

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“I fill a big canister of water with electrolytes, lemon juice, and a little creatine, and I go down to the sauna,” said Goodwin.

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Daytime Meetings to Stratageize

After a hearty breakfast typically consisting of boiled eggs and black coffee, he soon finds himself in back-to-back Zoom meetings. Topics include everything from departmental issues to strategies for the forthcoming business quarter.

Man smiles as he speaks with a work colleague from his home office

Source: Freepik

While meetings are necessary for any company, Goodwin alludes to the idea that he has “too many meetings every day.”

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The Fun Begins in the Evening

Finally, Goodwin gets to experience new flavors once he officially signs out of office at 5.00 p.m. on weekdays.

Man performs barbell bicep curl using a weight in the comfort of his home

Source: Freepik

But first, he typically ends the work day with some form of fitness. Usually, Goodwin either enjoys a gym session from the comfort of his home or a guided workout with his health coach.

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