SOS Hydration
SOS Hydration is a San Francisco-based DTC brand (founded 2013) that manufactures and sells low-sugar electrolyte powder sticks formulated around sodium-glucose co-transport science, serving health-conscious consumers across exercise, recovery, travel, and daily hydration use cases via its own e-commerce site and a wholesale channel.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SOS Hydration does
SOS Hydration, Inc. is a San Francisco-based, privately held manufacturer of electrolyte drink-mix powders founded in 2013. The company sells single-serve powder sticks formulated around what it markets as "Rapid Hydration Science™," a precise osmolarity ratio of sodium and glucose (3g sugar, 15 calories per serving) designed to leverage the sodium-glucose co-transport mechanism for faster fluid absorption than water or conventional sports drinks. Products are Non-GMO, vegan, and free of artificial colors and preservatives, and are sold in 8-count boxes across multiple flavors (Mango, Watermelon, Rainbow) alongside 10-stick starter packs, 20-count variety packs, and multi-box bundles.
The business operates primarily as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce brand through soshydration.com, with pricing tiers ranging from a $9.99 entry-point starter pack (free shipping) to a $64.95 five-box bundle marketed as "Best Value," and a 30-day money-back guarantee used as a conversion mechanism. A secondary wholesale channel exists via an inquiry page for retailers and distributors, but no major retail or marketplace distribution is documented. The company addresses four customer use cases — exercise, recovery, travel, and daily wellness — and supports acquisition through organic social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), an educational blog ("The Source"), email marketing, and a hydration quiz. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, the only disclosed funding is a $300,000 round dated June 17, 2021, and the leadership team includes co-founders Blanca Lizaola-Mayo, Thomas Mayo, and James Mayo (Chief Hydration Officer), with Leighton J. Smith as CFO.
The company's stated moat rests on differentiated formulation (lower sugar and faster absorption claims versus named competitors such as Liquid IV) and a sharp, comparative brand voice, supported by claimed adoption of 1M+ customers and a 4.75/5 rating across 339 website reviews. No patents, AI capabilities, geographic expansion data, enterprise customers, or additional funding events are disclosed in the available sources.
SOS Hydration firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SOS Hydration
- Legal name
- SOS Hydration
- Website
- https://sosrehydrate.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SOS Hydration is a San Francisco-based DTC brand (founded 2013) that manufactures and sells low-sugar electrolyte powder sticks formulated around sodium-glucose co-transport science, serving health-conscious consumers across exercise, recovery, travel, and daily hydration use cases via its own e-commerce site and a wholesale channel.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SOS Hydration industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hydration Supplements
- NAICS
- Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports & Isotonic Drink Production (AFAFAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Drinks & Hydration Beverages (CRADAHAK), Sports Drink Production (Isotonic/Hypotonic) (AFAFABAF)
Keywords
Where SOS Hydration is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
SOS Hydration business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales through the company's e-commerce website. Products sold as powder sticks in various bundle configurations (single boxes, multi-box bundles). Volume discounts offered through bundle pricing to drive larger average order values.
- Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale channel available for retailers and distributors. The website mentions a wholesale inquiry page, indicating B2B distribution as a secondary revenue stream.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Starter Pack - 10 sticks for new customers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1× 8ct Box - Single unit purchase |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3× 8ct Boxes - Small bundle discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 5× 8ct Boxes - Best value bundle |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
SOS Hydration product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SOS Hydration manufactures and sells vitamin-enhanced electrolyte powder sticks that use a precise sodium-glucose co-transport formula to deliver 4× faster hydration than water with only 3g of sugar and 15 calories per serving. The company sells single-flavor 8-count boxes, a 10-stick variety starter pack, and a 20-count variety pack directly to consumers via its e-commerce website and secondarily through a wholesale channel to retailers.
Product overview
SOS Hydration offers vitamin-enhanced electrolyte powders for daily hydration and immunity. Their core product line consists of electrolyte powder sticks formulated with precise osmolarity for rapid hydration (4× faster than water), containing only 3g sugar and 15 calories per serving. The product portfolio includes the SOS Variety Pack (20ct), SOS Variety Starter Pack (10 sticks), individual 8ct boxes in various flavors (Mango, Watermelon, Rainbow), and Bundle & Save bulk purchase options. All products are Non-GMO and vegan with no artificial colors or preservatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SOS Hydration Electrolyte Powder (8ct box) Vitamin-enhanced electrolyte powder sticks sold in 8-count boxes in multiple flavors including Mango, Watermelon, and Rainbow. Formulated for rapid hydration using a sodium-glucose co-transport system, with 3g sugar and 15 calories per serving, and Non-GMO and vegan with no artificial colors or preservatives. Targeted at individual consumers for exercise, recovery, travel, and daily hydration.
- SOS Variety Starter Pack (10 sticks) A 10-stick starter pack of vitamin-enhanced electrolyte powder sticks in multiple flavors, designed as a low-friction entry point for new customers. Contains 3g sugar and 15 calories per serving and is Non-GMO and vegan with no artificial colors or preservatives. Priced at $9.99 with free shipping.
- SOS Variety Pack (20ct) A 20-count multi-flavor variety pack of vitamin-enhanced electrolyte powder sticks for rapid hydration, formulated with 3g sugar, 15 calories per serving, and precise osmolarity to deliver 4× faster hydration than water. Non-GMO and vegan with no artificial colors or preservatives.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4× faster hydration than water
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SOS Hydration
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SOS Hydration technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SOS Hydration partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SOS Hydration competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DripDrop Hydration: ORS-based electrolyte powder brand offering flavored hydration sticks; directly comparable product format targeting dehydration, exercise recovery, and travel — same use cases SOS markets to.
- Nuun: Tablet-based hydration brand (now owned by Nestlé Health Science) targeting athletes and daily hydration; competes with SOS for the same exercise and travel use cases via an alternative dissolvable format.
- Ultima Replenisher: Sugar-free electrolyte powder brand sold DTC and via retail; directly comparable format and competing on the same clean-label, low-calorie hydration positioning.
- Buoy Hydration: DTC electrolyte drop and powder brand with similar clean-label and science-driven positioning; comparable target customer (health-conscious daily wellness seekers) and premium pricing structure.
- Liquid IV: Direct DTC competitor selling electrolyte powder sticks with similar hydration claims. Acquired by Unilever, giving it massive distribution and marketing firepower that SOS competes against head-to-head on soshydration.com.
- Cure Hydration: Premium DTC electrolyte powder brand emphasizing clean ingredients and low sugar; mirrors SOS's clean-label positioning and targets the same daily wellness and exercise customer segments.
- LMNT: Premium electrolyte powder brand focused on sodium, magnesium, and potassium without sugar; comparable SKU format, similar science-driven positioning, and overlapping health-conscious customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Gatorade (PepsiCo): Dominant incumbent sports drink brand; SOS explicitly positions against Gatorade as 'neon sugar water.' Massive retail distribution and brand recognition create a structural barrier SOS must overcome via DTC-first positioning.
- Pedialyte: Abbott-owned hydration brand with broad retail distribution across powder sticks, RTD bottles, and freezer pops; overlaps with SOS in dehydration relief and daily electrolyte use, with vastly larger retail and medical-channel presence.
Emerging players
- Tailwind Nutrition: Endurance-focused electrolyte powder brand for runners and triathletes; overlaps with SOS's exercise and recovery use cases but more narrowly targets the endurance athlete segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SOS Hydration social profiles
Digital presenceSOS Hydration financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SOS Hydration leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
SOS Hydration funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SOS Hydration M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SOS Hydration
What does SOS Hydration do?
SOS Hydration manufactures and sells vitamin-enhanced electrolyte powder sticks that use a precise sodium-glucose co-transport formula to deliver 4× faster hydration than water with only 3g of sugar and 15 calories per serving. The company sells single-flavor 8-count boxes, a 10-stick variety starter pack, and a 20-count variety pack directly to consumers via its e-commerce website and secondarily through a wholesale channel to retailers.
Is SOS Hydration a public or private company?
SOS Hydration is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SOS Hydration founded?
SOS Hydration was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SOS Hydration based?
SOS Hydration is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does SOS Hydration make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution.
Who are SOS Hydration's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DripDrop Hydration, Nuun, Ultima Replenisher, Buoy Hydration, Liquid IV, Cure Hydration and LMNT. Broad incumbents are Gatorade (PepsiCo) and Pedialyte. Tailwind Nutrition is listed as an emerging player.
Does SOS Hydration have an API?
No public API is recorded for SOS Hydration.
What industry is SOS Hydration in?
SOS Hydration's product category is Hydration Supplements. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAFAB, Sports & Isotonic Drink Production, with a secondary code of CRADAHAK, Sports Drinks & Hydration Beverages. Its NAICS code is 31211 and its SIC code is 2080.