Seedlip founder launches venture studio, bitters brand
Ben Branson, the founder of Seedlip, has launched a venture studio called Pollen Projects. This initiative is described as the world’s first venture studio dedicated to non-alcoholic drinks. Pollen Projects aims to impact the premium non-alcoholic category by supporting new businesses and products, initially developed by Branson, with plans to invite additional partners for collaboration in the future.
The first output from Pollen Projects is a duo of 0% ABV cocktail bitters named Seasn, which includes Seasn Light and Seasn Dark. These bitters can be used in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and are positioned as the “salt and pepper” for drinks. Emma Wykes, who has previously worked with Seedlip, will serve as the Chief Operating Officer, while Dan Hatton is a founding partner.
Source: The Spirits Business
Lyre’s partners with DJ David Guetta
Lyre’s just announced a partnership with world-renowned DJ David Guetta, who has taken an undisclosed stake in the company. This endorsement will undoubtedly increase the reach of Lyre’s given Guetta’s immense popularity and influence. With over 100 million fans across various social networks and a reputation as a top DJ and producer, Guetta’s involvement is expected to significantly boost Lyre’s visibility and appeal, especially at nightclubs and festivals globally.
This development reflects two broader trends we’ve been watching for the past few months: the rise of celebrity-endorsed non-alc brands, and the decline of drinking at music venues. Early high profile collaborations include Bella Hadid’s involvement with Kin Euphorics and Katy Perry’s with De Soi. More recently, the ventures of Lewis Hamilton and Zayn Malik (Almave and Mixoloshe, respectively) echo ones we saw this summer: Danny Trejo’s non-alc tequila and Bethenny Frankel’s association with Mingle Mocktails.
On the music venue side, journalists go as far to say that Gen Z’s drinking habits are killing concerts, while others have explored why people in general aren’t “getting trashed at concerts anymore.” Meanwhile, non-alcoholic options at these venues are starting to emerge, and this could be the answer for venues’ bottom lines. See The New Bar’s prominent presence at Coachella.
Source: The Spirits Business
Sunnyside raises $11.5 million Series A
Sunnyside, the leading mindful drinking app, raised $11.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Motley Fool Ventures. This investment marks a strong vote of confidence in Sunnyside’s approach to promoting healthier drinking habits. The app, which offers a range of features including daily drink tracking, personalized coaching, and community engagement, aims to redefine the way individuals manage their alcohol consumption.
With over 200,000 users already benefiting from its services, Sunnyside is poised to expand its impact in the realm of mindful drinking, offering a unique blend of technology and personal coaching to those seeking to change their relationship with alcohol. The funding will be instrumental in enhancing Sunnyside’s offerings, particularly in the development and rollout of its new AI-powered mindful drinking coach, “Sunny.” This innovative feature, built on ChatGPT technology, is designed to augment the capabilities of Sunnyside’s human coaching team.
Source: TechCrunch
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