Functional, all-natural soda brand Living Things has closed a £500,000 pre-seed round led by Brewdog co-founder and former CEO James Watt.
Launched in January by Ben Vear and Jonathan Relph, Living Things is already resonating strongly with health-conscious consumers, combining the fruity, refreshing taste of soda with the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics to help balance the body’s microbiome and promote overall wellbeing. It has enjoyed a remarkably strong market debut, selling 100k+ cans, securing listings in over 300 retailers including Whole Foods and Amazon, and is on track for a run-rate of over £1 million before the end of 2024.
Watt said: “I came across Living Things first and foremost as a customer and myself and my girlfriend were instantly hooked. The soda category is ripe for disruption and I believe that sodas that are significantly better for you than the incumbents are going to lead that charge. The Living Things brand and product are both incredible, the business is led by two fantastic entrepreneurs in Ben and Jonathan. I can’t wait to use my experience in drinks to help them scale this rapidly-growing business whilst having a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing.”
The latest funding will be used to help the business scale its operations, develop new products and fuel international expansion.
Ben Vear, CEO of Living Things, said: “Demand for Living Things has been well beyond our early expectations, and securing support from James Watt is real validation of our team, product and brand and will help navigate our next phase of growth. Our fundraise will support us growing a best-in-class team and accelerate a stand-out product which improves gut health, helps consumers reduce sugar intake, and actually tastes good, too.”
