Ben Goodwin is Co-Founder, CEO, and Formulator of OLIPOP, a functional prebiotic soda brand disrupting the $40 billion soda industry with gut-healthy alternatives. He has created over 30 flavor formulations throughout his career and personally develops new flavors in his home laboratory.

Goodwin dropped out of college to pursue beverage formulation after losing 50 pounds at age 14 and discovering the gut-brain connection. He previously co-founded Obi Probiotic Soda in 2009, raised over $2M, and achieved $1M+ in sales before exiting in 2016.

Goodwin has over a decade of experience in fermentation and probiotics, developing multiple pieces of intellectual property in the category. He transformed his personal health journey into a mission to make digestive health accessible to millions of consumers.

OLIPOP launched in 2018 with $100K and has raised $243M in total funding, reaching a $1.85B valuation in its Series C round. The company achieved profitability in 2024 with over $400M in annual sales and distribution in 50,000+ stores including Walmart, Target, and Starbucks.

OLIPOP is now the top non-alcoholic beverage brand in the US by dollar sales and unit growth, reaching nearly 1 in 5 households. The brand outsold A&W to become the best-selling root beer in America and has grown from 3 flavors in 40 stores to 20 flavors in 65,000 retailers.