Stephen Ellsworth

Stephen Ellsworth is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Poppi, the prebiotic soda brand that redefined healthier sodas and sold to Pepsi for nearly $2 billion. He launched the company with his wife Allison in 2016, turning a homemade apple cider vinegar remedy in their Dallas kitchen into a national phenomenon.

Before Poppi, Stephen worked in health and fitness but had no beverage industry experience. When Allison began experimenting with ACV drinks, he was skeptical — but once the taste improved, he dove in headfirst. The couple sold the original "Mother Beverage" at the Dallas Farmers Market, where a Whole Foods buyer's interest convinced them to go all-in. Stephen handled operations and product development while Allison led branding.

The Ellsworths took Poppi on Shark Tank in 2017 (with Allison nine months pregnant), securing a deal with beverage veteran Rohan Oza. They rebranded to Poppi and prepared for launch — just as COVID hit. Rather than stall, they bet on Amazon and TikTok, where Allison's candid storytelling and Stephen's digital-first tactics turned the brand viral. A last-minute Super Bowl ad in 2024 tripled awareness overnight, and Poppi's $500M+ revenue year paved the way for Pepsi's $1.95 billion acquisition in 2025.

Stephen served as CEO from 2019 to 2022 before shifting to Chief Product Officer, focusing on innovation. The exit brought unexpected emotional challenges — losing daily purpose and team leadership — but both founders are already exploring their next beverage venture, applying lessons from a nine-year grind that turned kitchen experiments into industry legacy.