How did Shark Tank’s Rohan Oza land a $1.95 billion deal with PepsiCo? 

Rohan Oza, or as people in the beverage biz like to call him, The Brandfather, pulled off one of Shark Tank’s biggest wins when PepsiCo scooped up Poppi for a jaw-dropping $1.95 billion in May 2025. The fizzy, gut-friendly drink actually started in Allison Ellsworth’s kitchen, born out of her search for a soda that didn’t wreck her health. When she walked into the Tank back in 2018, nine months pregnant and ready to pitch with her husband Stephen, she introduced the Sharks to her apple cider vinegar tonic, Mother Beverage. Oza saw potential right away, and the rest is billion-dollar history.

For those new to the show, Shark Tank is basically a high-stakes marketplace where big-dreaming entrepreneurs pitch their wildest ideas to a panel of mega-rich investors. If they’re lucky, they swim away with funding, mentorship, and maybe even a life-changing deal that turns a home experiment into a global brand.

Shark Tank has launched numerous successful products, but few reach billion-dollar valuations. Oza invested $400,000 for a 25% stake in what was then a modest beverage startup. His transformation of Mother Beverage into Poppi represents a masterclass in brand evolution, swapping glass bottles for vibrant cans, repositioning the product as a sparkling prebiotic soda, and creating an Instagram-ready aesthetic that resonated with health-conscious consumers. The Shark Tank deal showcases how strategic rebranding and market timing can turn a farmer's market product into a retail phenomenon.

Shark Tank: How has Rohan Oza’s investments been faring?

Oza didn't just invest money; he completely reimagined the brand after Shark Tank. Mother Beverage underwent a total overhaul under his guidance. The name changed to Poppi, immediately more memorable and playful.

The product itself evolved from an apple cider vinegar tonic into a sparkling prebiotic soda. This shift positioned it within the growing functional beverage category while maintaining mass appeal. Packaging received the most visible transformation after Shark Tank. Glass bottles disappeared, replaced by sleek aluminum cans in hot pink, orange, and purple. The homespun aesthetic gave way to bold colors designed for social media visibility.

"There's no consumer audience in the world that's willing to embrace new brands as rapidly as Americans are,"

Oza explained, declaring:

"I came here with a dream. It's full circle."

The strategy worked. Poppi cans became impossible to miss in grocery store beverage aisles, their bright colors standing out among traditional soda brands. Poppi wasn't Oza's first billion-dollar venture. His career demonstrates a pattern of identifying promising brands and scaling them dramatically.

Born in Zambia and raised in the U.K., Oza describes himself as a lifelong soda enthusiast. Early in his career at Mars, working on Snickers, a supervisor told him marketing might not suit him. Instead of changing paths, he doubled down by earning an MBA from the University of Michigan.

His breakthrough came at Coca-Cola in Atlanta. The company assigned him Powerade, a struggling brand facing a 15% sales decline. Under Oza's leadership, sales rebounded 35% within a single year. Oza's work with VitaminWater established his reputation as a brand visionary. He approached rapper 50 Cent about endorsing the beverage, but the musician wanted more than typical celebrity compensation; he demanded equity.

The result was Formula 50, a collaborative product between VitaminWater and the rapper. Sales doubled to $160 million in one year. When VitaminWater's parent company Glaceau sold to Coca-Cola for $4.1 billion in 2007, 50 Cent's 2% stake generated substantial returns. This experience taught Oza the value of cultural relevance and celebrity partnerships in beverage marketing, lessons he'd later apply to Poppi.

The global nonalcoholic beverage market reached approximately $1.41 trillion in 2025. Within this massive industry, identifying the right brand at the right moment creates enormous wealth. Oza recognized shifting consumer preferences toward functional beverages. Traditional sodas faced declining sales as health-conscious buyers sought alternatives without sacrificing taste or convenience. Poppi entered this gap perfectly, offering gut health benefits through prebiotics while maintaining the fizzy satisfaction of conventional soda. The positioning attracted consumers wanting wellness without compromise.

Rohan Oza’s $1.95 billion payoff

PepsiCo's May acquisition valued Poppi at $1.95 billion, vindicating Oza's 2018 investment and subsequent brand transformation. For a $400,000 initial stake, Oza's 25% equity represented a massive return.

The deal demonstrates how Shark Tank investments can generate extraordinary outcomes when combined with strategic expertise. Oza didn't simply provide capital; he applied decades of beverage industry knowledge to position Poppi for acquisition by a major corporation. His success with Poppi cements his nickname as "The Brandfather," proving once again his ability to spot potential and execute transformative brand strategies.

Trending

Shark Tank airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and is available for streaming the next day on Hulu.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback