Kona Deep
Kona Deep Corporation is a privately held Hawaiian company that bottles deep ocean water sourced from 3,000 feet below the surface off Kona, processed via single-pass reverse osmosis, and distributes the natural electrolyte water through retail, Amazon, and select international markets targeting health-conscious and athletic consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersKailua Kona, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kona Deep does
Kona Deep Corporation is a privately held Hawaiian consumer packaged goods company that harvests deep ocean water from approximately 3,000 feet below the surface off the coast of Kona, Hawaii, leveraging intake infrastructure operated by the National Energy Laboratory of Hawaiian Authority (NELHA). The water is desalinated at the source via single-pass reverse osmosis—more energy-efficient than the multi-pass processes common in traditional desalination—and bottled on-site into BPA-free recyclable plastic, yielding an all-natural, calorie-free product with a Total Dissolved Solids count of approximately 250 mg/liter and no additives.
The company operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and retail distribution model. Sales channels include the company's own e-commerce site (konadeep.com), Amazon, and hundreds of physical retail locations across Hawaii and the US mainland (California, Oregon, and additional states), covering premium grocers (Whole Foods, Safeway, Sprouts, Gelson's, Mollie Stone's), convenience retailers (7-Eleven, ABC Stores), and top-tier hospitality venues (Sheraton Waikiki, Four Seasons Hualalai, Grand Wailea Resort). Shipping to the mainland is done via back-haul containers to reduce fuel use, and bottles are blown on-site to minimize packaging-related emissions. The company claims sustainability study-backed minimal environmental impact on local ocean ecosystems.
Revenue is generated entirely through bottled water sales. The company has raised approximately $5.5M in disclosed funding (a 2017 round led by Danone Manifesto Ventures with BAM Ventures, Dom Capital Group, and Grand Crossing Capital, plus a 2019 BAM Ventures follow-on). Primary customer segments are health-conscious consumers seeking naturally occurring electrolytes and superior hydration, and a secondary segment of athletes and fitness-oriented buyers targeting performance hydration (supported by a University of Arizona School of Medicine study reporting 2x faster hydration versus spring water or sports drinks). The company is headquartered at the NELHA campus in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with a sales/marketing office in Redondo Beach, California.
Kona Deep firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kona Deep
- Legal name
- Kona Deep Corporation
- Website
- https://konadeep.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kona Deep Corporation is a privately held Hawaiian company that bottles deep ocean water sourced from 3,000 feet below the surface off Kona, processed via single-pass reverse osmosis, and distributes the natural electrolyte water through retail, Amazon, and select international markets targeting health-conscious and athletic consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kona Deep industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bottled Water
- NAICS
- Bottled Water Manufacturing (312112)
- SIC
- Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Purified/RO Bottled Water Production (AFAFACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Post-Treatment & Remineralization (Stabilization, Blending, Disinfection) (EUANAFAG)
Keywords
Where Kona Deep is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kailua Kona
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Kona Deep business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Bottled Water Sales: Kona Deep generates revenue through the sale of bottled deep ocean water products. Water is desalinated and bottled at the source in Kona, Hawaii, then distributed to retail stores nationwide and through Amazon e-commerce. The product is calorie-free with naturally occurring electrolytes.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Kona Deep product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kona Deep harvests deep ocean water from 3,000 feet below the surface off the coast of Kona, Hawaii, desalinating it using energy-efficient single-pass reverse osmosis while preserving naturally occurring electrolytes and trace minerals. The water is bottled on-site at the NELHA campus in Kailua-Kona and sold as a premium bottled water product through retail stores nationwide and Amazon.
Product overview
Kona Deep is a single-product company offering deep ocean water as its sole product line. The water is harvested from a unique deep ocean current 3,000 feet below the surface off the coast of Kona, Hawaii. The product undergoes one simple pass through reverse osmosis to remove salt while preserving beneficial electrolytes and trace minerals naturally absorbed from undersea volcanic fissures. With a TDS of approximately 250 mg/liter, the water has mineral content equal to mineral water. The product is all-natural, calorie-free, and nothing is added during processing. It is distributed nationwide through retail stores and Amazon.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kona Deep Deep Ocean Water
Quantifiable outcome
- Hydration rate: 2x faster than spring water or sports drinks (University of Arizona School of Medicine study)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kona Deep
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kona Deep technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Kona Deep partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- NELHA (National Energy Laboratory of Hawaiian Authority)coreThe State of Hawaii established NELHA in 1974 to develop and diversify the Hawaii economy. NELHA built and maintains the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park, including the infrastructure that Kona Deep utilizes. NELHA built a mile-long pipe that pulls deep ocean water from 3,000 feet below the surface, which Kona Deep accesses for its water supply. The State of Hawaii has invested over $100 million since 1974 to create HOST Park, a unique outdoor demonstration site for emerging renewable and ocean-based technologies.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kona Deep competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Smartwater: Smartwater is the leading U.S. premium bottled-water brand owned by Energy Transfer/BlueTriton, distributed nationally across grocery, c-store, and foodservice. It sits in the same premium price tier but at vastly greater distribution scale, representing the incumbent benchmark Kona Deep competes against in mainstream retail.
- Evian (Danone): Evian is the global natural mineral water brand owned by Danone — the parent of Danone Manifesto Ventures, which led Kona Deep's 2017 round. Comparable as a premium natural mineral water brand with global retail and hospitality presence and similar single-source geological narrative.
- AquaPanna: Sanpellegrino's AquaPanna is a premium Italian spring water brand distributed across fine-dining and hospitality channels globally. It is comparable in hospitality and fine-food retail placement, premium positioning, and single-source natural-water narrative; an incumbent in many of the same resort and hotel accounts where Kona Deep appears.
Direct peers
- LIFEWTR: LIFEWTR is a premium bottled-water brand owned by PepsiCo positioned around purity and design-forward packaging at a premium price point. Comparable in grocery mass-channel premium placement, pH/mineral claims, and target consumer overlap with Kona Deep.
- Voss Water: Voss is a Norwegian-origin premium bottled-water brand known for minimalist design, single-source branding, and broad upscale retail and hospitality distribution. Comparable to Kona Deep in single-source premium positioning, design-led brand aesthetic, and reliance on natural mineral/electrolyte content as a differentiator.
- Essentia Water: Essentia is a U.S.-based premium ionized alkaline bottled-water brand positioned around hydration performance and pH benefits. It competes with Kona Deep in the same health-and-performance-hydration narrative, premium price tier, and grocery/convenience-channel footprint.
- Icelandic Glacial: Icelandic Glacial is a premium still and sparkling bottled-water brand sourced from a single Icelandic glacier-fed spring, marketed on purity and sustainability. Comparable to Kona Deep as a single-source premium water brand with a natural/pure-origin story and similar retail and hospitality distribution profile.
- Fiji Water: Fiji Water is the leading premium bottled-water brand globally, selling still and sparkling artesian water sourced from a single natural aquifer in Fiji. It is the closest direct peer to Kona Deep in product positioning, single-source branding, premium retail placement, and hospitality channel presence, and competes head-to-head in the same Whole Foods/Sprouts-style natural-channel shelves.
- Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water: Waiakea is a Hawaii-based premium bottled-water brand sourcing from volcanic springs on the Big Island, with a sustainability narrative and direct-to-consumer plus retail distribution. It is a particularly tight comparable given shared Hawaiian origin, Big Island geography, premium positioning, and similar sustainability/carbon-neutral messaging.
Emerging players
- Liquid Death: Liquid Death is a fast-growing canned/bottled water brand positioned as a disruptive lifestyle brand with irreverent marketing and aluminum-packaging sustainability story. Though differing in packaging and tone, it competes for the same health-conscious, millennial/Gen-Z consumer wallet share that Kona Deep targets in the premium-hydration narrative.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kona Deep social profiles
Digital presenceKona Deep financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kona Deep leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kona Deep funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kona Deep 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 Kona Deep
What does Kona Deep do?
Kona Deep harvests deep ocean water from 3,000 feet below the surface off the coast of Kona, Hawaii, desalinating it using energy-efficient single-pass reverse osmosis while preserving naturally occurring electrolytes and trace minerals. The water is bottled on-site at the NELHA campus in Kailua-Kona and sold as a premium bottled water product through retail stores nationwide and Amazon.
Is Kona Deep a public or private company?
Kona Deep is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Kona Deep founded?
Kona Deep was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kona Deep based?
Kona Deep is headquartered in Kailua Kona, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kona Deep make money?
One revenue line is on record: bottled Water Sales.
Who are Kona Deep's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Smartwater, Evian (Danone) and AquaPanna. Direct peers are LIFEWTR, Voss Water, Essentia Water, Icelandic Glacial, Fiji Water and Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water. Liquid Death is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kona Deep have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kona Deep.
What industry is Kona Deep in?
Kona Deep's product category is Bottled Water. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFACAC, Purified/RO Bottled Water Production, with a secondary code of EUANAFAG, Post-Treatment & Remineralization (Stabilization, Blending, Disinfection). Its NAICS code is 312112 and its SIC code is 2086.