We’re taking over today's newsletter to talk about topics: specifically, the things that we’re all going to be talking about at BevNET Live in just two short weeks at the Marriott Marina del Rey on Dec. 7-9. Top of the list are the founders of Poppi, the healthy soda brand involved in the year’s biggest deal, Allison and Stephen Ellsworth. The pair, who debuted Poppi as Mother beverage at BevNET Live’s 2016 New Beverage Showdown, will take the stage to reflect on some of the challenges they encountered along the way, from pivoting on the brand name and marketing approach, to professionalizing the team, to the journey of a married couple from startup to sale. The financial environment around the beverage business has been in flux – several major emerging independent energy drink companies have sold, but comparatively little money has flowed into the newer brands that are moving into distribution. Throughout BevNET Live, we offer insight into the ways that individual and institutional investors look at emerging functional products, scaling brands and promising founders, including through a 10-year snapshot with Doehler Venture Group and panels with fund investors Nate Cooper, Brian Rosen, and Bill Moses, as well as strategics like Generous Brands and Convivialite Ventures. Other funding viewpoints will also come from Gryphon Partners, Manna Tree, and First Bev. Brand strategy and tactical lessons are core to the BevNET Live program: front-line founders in the marketplace will discuss tactics for growing brands when we sit down with Ila Byrne of Parch, Scarlett Leung of Pretty Tasty, and Susan Buckwalter Hartman of Recoup. We’ll also discuss audience development strategy with Michael Brandt of Ketone IQ, Jordan Bass of Hop WTR and Kyle Watson from Celsius, as well as growth strategy with Courtney O’Brien from the Outlier Initiative. On the route-to market side, presentations from retail network INFRA and key national distributor UNFI will give snapshots of effective cooperation between retail and distribution organizations and the brands they sell and service. Two data presentations will help founders on strategy development: strategic sourcing firm Agrowgate will provide a forecast around input costs and macroeconomic trends that can affect the bottom line for beverage companies, while Consumer Psychology firm Alpha Diver has crunched sales numbers and explored consumer cues to find the reasons that fast-growing brands take off at retail. Leadership is always on the agenda at BevNET Live. Company leaders include Spindrift’s Bill Creelman, Health Ade’s Chris Lansing and Suja’s Maria Stipp taking part in discussions on scale, sale, and investor alignment. Industry leaders from the Cannabev business will also join up for a special session on their response to a potentially business-ending change in the federal Farm Bill. Tickets are going fast. Now is the moment to lock in your spot. ⏩ Learn more and register here. | 
