What Koia does

Koia is a Los Angeles-based, privately held plant-based protein beverage company founded in 2014 that develops, manufactures, and distributes ready-to-drink and powdered protein products under six product lines: Protein Shakes, Elite Shakes, Nutrition Shakes, Kids Shakes, Protein Powders, and Protein Pop. The company's core technology centers on a proprietary plant protein blend combining pea protein, brown rice protein, and chickpea protein to deliver complete amino acid profiles comparable to dairy-based proteins on PDCAAS metrics, complemented by prebiotic fiber delivery via chicory root and agave fiber, and clean-label formulations free from artificial sweeteners, erythritol, gums, and (in the Elite line) seed oils. Differentiated formats include clear, sparkling protein beverages via Protein Pop (10g clear pea protein) and a shelf-stable Elite line integrating 1000mg creatine monohydrate per serving for performance nutrition positioning.

The business operates a dual-channel model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce at drinkkoia.com with omnichannel retail distribution across more than 40,000 storefronts spanning natural grocery (Whole Foods, Sprouts), mass retail (Target, Walmart), grocery chains (Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Vons, Giant, H.E.B), and convenience (7-Eleven), plus marketplace availability through Amazon and Instacart. Pricing is positioned at the premium end of the ready-to-drink protein category, with Elite 12-packs at $49.99 and Nutrition Shakes at $46.99, supported by bundle promotions (Wellness Duo, Performance Duo). The company targets four primary consumer personas — athletes and fitness enthusiasts, health-conscious consumers, families with children, and plant-based/vegan consumers — and serves them through product-led growth, social and content marketing, and wellness-channel partnerships. Geographic operations are limited to the contiguous United States, with international shipping explicitly not offered.

Name

Koia

Legal name

Koia

Website

https://drinkkoia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Koia is a Los Angeles-based plant-based protein beverage company that formulates and distributes ready-to-drink shakes, protein powders, and clear sparkling protein drinks through 40,000+ US retail stores and direct-to-consumer e-commerce, targeting athletes, health-conscious consumers, families, and plant-based shoppers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plant-Based Protein Beverages

NAICS

Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant-Based Protein Shakes & Nutritional RTD (Non-Dairy) (AFAFAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alternative Protein Snacks, Bars & RTD Nutrition Manufacturing (AFAKAGAK), Protein & Meal-Replacement Beverage Production (RTD Shakes) (AFAFAFAD), Kombucha & Other Fermented Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AFAFABAK)

Keywords

• Plant-based protein beverages
• Vegan protein shakes
• Ready-to-drink protein
• Functional nutrition drinks
• Plant protein powder

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Koia sells products directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform drinkkoia.com, offering the full product lineup including Protein Shakes, Nutrition Shakes, Elite Shakes, Protein Powders, Kids Shakes, and Protein Pop. Products are shipped to contiguous US addresses only.
2. Retail Distribution: Koia distributes through over 40,000 retail stores nationwide including Whole Foods, 7-Eleven, Publix, Vons, Safeway, Target, Walmart, Giant, H.E.B and more. Products are also available through Instacart and Amazon for same-day and online delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Koia manufactures and sells plant-based protein beverages across multiple product lines including refrigerated Protein Shakes (18g protein), shelf-stable Nutrition Shakes (tetra Pak), high-protein Elite Shakes (32g protein with creatine variants), Kids Shakes, Protein Powders, and clear sparkling Protein Pop drinks. The company distributes through over 40,000 retail stores nationwide (Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Kroger, 7-Eleven) and via its direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform drinkkoia.com.

Product overview

Koia is a plant-based protein beverage company offering multiple product lines: (1) Protein Shakes (original refrigerated line with 18g protein in 14+ flavors), (2) Elite Shakes (high-protein 32g line with avocado oil, no seed oils), (3) Nutrition Shakes (shelf-stable tetra Pak with 21 vitamins/minerals), (4) Kids Shakes (organic, kid-formulated with 9g protein), (5) Protein Powders (20g-32g formats for home preparation), and (6) Protein Pop (clear, sparkling 10g protein beverages). All products are vegan, non-GMO, dairy-free, and kosher certified. Distributed in over 40,000 retail stores nationwide including Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Kroger, and 7-Eleven.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protein Shakes (Original Line)

Quantifiable outcome

• Creatine category projected to grow at 29%+ CAGR through 2030
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• solidcorecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2026solidcore, a boutique strength-training brand headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, partnered with Koia for its 2026 Core Collective member-exclusive program. Koia products are introduced in studio fridges nationwide, offering members 15-20% discounts on Koia products. The partnership extends solidcore's brand impact beyond studio walls and deepens member engagement with brands supporting recovery, nutrition, and performance.
• Nekter Juice BarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Nekter Juice Bar partnered with Koia to launch a Protein Cleanse program available at participating locations nationwide beginning January 1, 2026. The one-day cleanse includes six beverages featuring two Koia Elite Vanilla Protein shakes providing 64 grams of plant-based protein alongside Nekter's cold-pressed juices. The partnership introduces Koia products into Nekter's protein-forward menu expansion.

Scale indicators2 records

Direct peers

• Califia Farms: Califia Farms produces plant-based beverages including protein coffee, almondmilk, and oat-based drinks with broad natural and mainstream grocery distribution. Overlaps with Koia on the plant-based functional beverage shelf set.
• Iconic Protein: Iconic produces grass-fed whey and plant-based RTD protein drinks with a focus on clean ingredients. Direct overlap with Koia's RTD protein positioning and natural channel distribution.
• Orgain: Orgain is a leading plant-based protein nutrition shake brand sold through mainstream grocery, club, and natural channels. Overlaps with Koia on dairy-free RTD shakes and protein powders targeting health-conscious consumers.
• Ripple Foods: Ripple is a plant-based protein beverage company producing pea-protein shakes and dairy alternatives. Direct overlap with Koia on pea-protein-based RTD nutrition and functional beverages.
• Mooala: Mooala makes dairy-free, plant-based beverages including protein drinks and creamers. Closely comparable in size, clean-label positioning, and natural channel presence to Koia.
• Aloha (Aloha Drink): Aloha is a plant-based protein drink brand using organic pea protein with low sugar and clean ingredients. Direct competitor to Koia in the natural grocery RTD protein set.
• OWYN (Only What You Need): OWYN is a direct competitor in the plant-based RTD protein shake category with comparable protein content per bottle, similar clean-label positioning, and overlapping retail distribution. Most directly comparable product to Koia's Original and Elite lines.
• Owyn / OWYN Plant Protein: OWYN also markets specifically to fitness and wellness consumers with creatine- and prebiotic-fortified variants that compete with Koia's Elite + Creatine line on the functional performance nutrition shelf.
• Vega (Premier Protein parent): Vega is a plant-based nutrition brand offering protein shakes, powders, and bars using pea and other plant proteins. Competes with Koia's Nutrition, Powders, and Original RTD lines in the same retail channels.

Broad incumbents

• Premier Protein: Premier Protein is the dominant mainstream RTD protein shake brand with very broad distribution and significant marketing scale. Whey-based but competing head-to-head on shelf in mass and convenience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/drinkkoia
• Instagraminstagram.com/drinkkoia
• Pinterestpinterest.com/drinkkoia
• TikToktiktok.com/@drinkkoia
• Xx.com/drinkkoia

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Koia