Entrepreneur Allison Ellsworth’s journey began in her kitchen as she faced personal health issues, like bloating in the stomach. Moreover, even after spending years working in the energy space, she did not accept the status quo.
In 2015, she began combining vinegar, apple cider, fresh juices, and water all together. Her aim was to provide a beverage that offers wellness without degrading the taste.
She and her husband, Stephen, launched their homemade concoction under the name Mother Beverage. They started selling at farmers’ markets before they even had retail packaging. Hence, within a short time, their brand captured the attention of buyers from Whole Foods.
In 2018, she secured a deal with the guest Shark Rohan Oza for $400,000 in exchange for 25%. However, the brand was rebranded under the name of Poppi from Mother Beverage.
Moreover, Poppi soon expanded its operations rapidly, starting from farmers’ markets to Whole Foods and then to many retail locations. They also did viral online marketing. Amidst all this, she led the brand strategy and innovation, bringing a digital-first mindset.
As Poppi grew, so did its valuation and ambition. The brand became a success in the soda space, leveraging its apple cider base, low sugar levels, bold and tasty flavors, and strong digital community. Between 2023 and 2025, Poppi reportedly achieved significant traction.
In mid-2025, PepsiCo announced that it would acquire Poppi for $1.95 billion. This marked one of the largest exits in the history of Shark Tank-featured brands.
Stepping Into the Tank as a Shark
On Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 5, Allison Ellsworth made her entrance as a full-time Shark. This switch from an entrepreneur who once pitched her brand on the same stage to an investor is very rare. She is one of the many who returned to the Tank to evaluate and offer deals.
Her experience as a founder gives her unique empathy and credibility in the Tank. She knows the stress of pitching, the logistics of manufacturing, the challenge of scaling consumer packaged goods, and the drive required to build a national brand. In a Parade interview, she reflected that unless you can really make an impact and help these entrepreneurs, don’t do it.
In Shark Tank Season 17 Episode 5, she made a deal with the founder of Freestyle Snacks, Nikki Seaman, for $300K in exchange for 11% equity in the brand. This investment made it clear that Allison is looking for brands where she can leverage her consumer product background, especially in food and beverage.
What It Means for Entrepreneurs
Allison’s journey offers several valuable lessons:
- The power of solving a personal problem. Allison’s own health issues led her to create a better soda. When your product emerges from genuine need, it resonates.
- Be willing to rebrand and pivot. Mother Beverage rebranded as Poppi, further demonstrating the brand’s willingness to evolve. That rebranding helped the product scale and become culturally relevant.
- Leverage media & culture. Poppi’s success wasn’t just about product quality—it was about packaging, positioning, social media, and lifestyle. As Allison notes, founder-investors look beyond numbers to brand, community, and story.
- Full-circle progression. Going from founder to Shark demonstrates how building credibility and success can create new opportunities.
- For founders pitching to her, they must match her strengths. Since she comes from consumer packaged goods and brand building, entrepreneurs in that space should be ready to speak in detail about packaging, margin, retail, marketing, and manufacturing.
Key Qualities Allison Brings to the Shark Tank
- Risk tolerance plus mentorship: Having built her own brand, she knows risk and reward. As a Shark, she is positioned to mentor, and not just cash. That is what dual-value startups will find attractive.
- Category expertise: The beverage space is crowded and complex. Ellsworth’s hands-on experience with Poppi gives her credibility when assessing consumer goods brands, especially those selling physical products, packaging, and retail distribution.
- Brand vision: Poppi succeeded partly on lifestyle and brand narrative. Ellsworth understands that in consumer categories, differentiation isn’t just a function; it’s a story, design, and community.
What to Watch Now That She’s On the Panel?
Allison’s debut raises key questions: Will her presence tilt the deal-making in certain categories, especially CPG or wellness brands? Will she lead deals differently from most of the traditional investors? And how will she use her Shark role to amplify her own brand and network?
The activity behind the scenes will matter. Will we see Allison bring in brands, co-invest, or perhaps use Poppi’s network to accelerate portfolio companies? Her involvement could signal a new era of platform investing within Shark Tank, where Sharks lean into verticals they know deeply.
