# Health-Ade Kombucha: Daina Trout (2020)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-01-09
- Length: 57m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020

## Summary

Daina Trout, co-founder of Health-Ade Kombucha, explains how a failed attempt to create a natural hair loss treatment pivoted into a kombucha brand after a farmer's market opportunity arose. Starting in her Los Angeles apartment closet with Justin and Vanessa Dew, she details the early struggles of scaling production, securing initial funding from First Beverage, and navigating the challenges of getting refrigerated products into retail stores like Erewhon and Gelson's. The episode highlights the transition from a side hustle to a $250 million business, culminating in a major investment from Coca-Cola and the eventual acquisition by First Beverage.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020#t=0) Introduction: Daina Trout and Health-Ade Kombucha
- [4:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020#t=257) Daina's Background: Biochemistry, GSK, and the Entrepreneur Club
- [17:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020#t=1048) The Hair Loss Pivot: Scoby Research and Farmer's Market Opportunity
- [26:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020#t=1600) Apartment Brewing: Closet Factory and Farmer's Market Sales
- [33:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020#t=1987) Going Full-Time: Quitting Jobs and Bartering for Brewery Space
- [39:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020#t=2391) Retail Distribution: Self-Distribution, Erewhon, and Gelson's
- [45:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020#t=2754) First Funding: First Beverage Investment and Scaling Production
- [53:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020#t=3194) Coca-Cola Investment, Acquisition, and Founder Dynamics

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Health-Ade Kombucha (product)
- GlaxoSmithKline (company)
- Erewhon (company)
- Gelson's (company)
- First Beverage (company)
- Coca-Cola (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#49 Scaling Health-Ade Kombucha's Operations with Co-Founder Justin Trout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-06-21-49-scaling-health-ade-kombuchas-operations-with-co-founder-justin-trout) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#179 - Bootstrap Heroes: Hazard's Hop Water, SWAIR, Gourmend Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-21-179-bootstrap-heroes-hazards-hop-water-swair-gourmend-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Susan Hartman of Recoup Beverages](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-14-founder-feature-susan-hartman-of-recoup-beverages) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Amna Mettmann of Brause](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-07-18-founder-feature-amna-mettmann-of-brause) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Brenna Turner and Joey Labes of Sake High!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-05-30-founder-feature-brenna-turner-and-joey-labes-of-sake-high) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

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