LIVE Soda
LIVE Soda is a privately held Austin-based functional beverage company that makes organic, fermented kombucha sodas with a proprietary synbiotic blend, selling direct-to-consumer via Shopify and wholesale to natural retailers like Natural Grocers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What LIVE Soda does
LIVE Soda (legal entity Live Soda, LLC, dba 'Live Soda' and 'Drink Live') is a privately held functional beverage company founded in 2012 in Austin, Texas. The company produces organic, authentically fermented kombucha sodas in six core flavors — Luscious Cream, Root Beer, Doctor Cherry Berry, Fountain Cola, Juicy Grape, and Lemon Lime — each enriched with a proprietary Native+™ Synbiotic Blend that combines prebiotics (organic cassava root fiber), probiotics (Bacillus coagulans and HT Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347 ES1), and postbiotics created during fermentation. All products are USDA Organic certified, contain zero added sugar (3g natural sugar from apple juice), 3–10mg caffeine per serving, and require refrigeration.
The company's underlying technology is biological rather than digital: real kombucha fermentation on an organic tea base that consumes added cane sugar during brewing, producing a low-sugar beverage with claimed gut-health benefits and a flavor profile positioned as nostalgic soda rather than traditional vinegary kombucha. Its go-to-market is dual-channel: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify-powered storefront offering 12-pack cases at $36.00 one-time or $34.20 on a subscription (5% savings, free shipping, flexible cadence), and wholesale to health-focused retailers with Natural Grocers confirmed as an anchor partner and an open wholesale inquiry page signaling active partner recruitment.
LIVE Soda serves health-conscious consumers seeking better-for-you alternatives to conventional soda, including gut-health-focused individuals with digestive concerns. The company is founder-led (Trevor Ross, Founder & CEO), operates with 11–50 employees, has no disclosed institutional funding or revenue, and currently operates exclusively in the United States with no app presence, no disclosed AI capabilities, and limited public leadership disclosure beyond the founder.
LIVE Soda firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LIVE Soda
- Legal name
- Live Soda, LLC
- Website
- https://livesoda.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LIVE Soda is a privately held Austin-based functional beverage company that makes organic, fermented kombucha sodas with a proprietary synbiotic blend, selling direct-to-consumer via Shopify and wholesale to natural retailers like Natural Grocers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LIVE Soda industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Functional Fermented Beverages
- NAICS
- Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Kombucha Production (AFAFAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kombucha & Other Fermented Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AFAFABAK), Probiotic & Live-Culture Beverage Production (Shots, Tonics) (AFAFAHAE), Fermented Tea & Botanical Beverage Production (Jun, Kvass, etc.) (AFAFAHAD)
Keywords
Where LIVE Soda is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
LIVE Soda business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: LIVE Soda sells 12-pack cases of its kombucha beverages directly to consumers through its Shopify-powered online store. One-time purchases at $36.00 per 12-pack with free shipping on orders over $50.
- Subscription Service: Recurring subscription model offering 5% discount ($34.20 per 12-pack vs $36.00 one-time) with automatic delivery on customer schedule. Subscribers receive free shipping and can modify or cancel anytime.
- Wholesale Distribution: B2B wholesale channel supplying health food stores, grocery chains, and retail locations. Company actively recruits new wholesale partners through dedicated inquiry page.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard 12-pack pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription 12-pack pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
LIVE Soda product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LIVE Soda manufactures and sells organic, authentically fermented kombucha sodas in six classic flavors (Luscious Cream, Root Beer, Doctor Cherry Berry, Fountain Cola, Juicy Grape, Lemon Lime). Each product contains the proprietary Native+™ Synbiotic Blend combining prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, with zero added sugar and USDA Organic certification. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce subscription and one-time purchases, as well as through wholesale to health food stores and grocery retailers.
Product overview
LIVE Soda offers a portfolio of organic living sodas reimagined from classic soda flavors. The products are authentically fermented kombuchas enriched with Native+, the company's proprietary synbiotic blend containing prebiotics (organic cassava root fiber), probiotics (Bacillus coagulans and HT Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347 ES1), and postbiotics. The core product line includes six flavors: Luscious Cream (cream soda), Root Beer, Doctor Cherry Berry, Fountain Cola, Juicy Grape, and Lemon Lime. All products are USDA Organic certified, contain zero added sugar, 3g natural sugar from apple juice, 3-10mg caffeine, and require refrigeration. The company sells direct-to-consumer via subscription and wholesale to retailers including Natural Grocers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Native+: Proprietary synbiotic blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics created by Live Soda to support gut health. Featured in all Live Soda products.
Products and services
- Luscious Cream Organic fermented kombucha soda in cream soda flavor with light brown sugar sweetness and creamy vanilla finish. Contains the proprietary Native+ synbiotic blend (prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics). Zero added sugar, USDA Organic, requires refrigeration. Sold in 12-pack 12oz cans.
- Root Beer Organic fermented kombucha soda in root beer flavor with vintage profile featuring smooth wintergreen, clove, and vanilla notes. Contains the Native+ synbiotic blend. Available in 12-pack 12oz cans.
- Doctor Cherry Berry Organic fermented kombucha soda with sweet cherry and raspberry flavor and a hint of vanilla. Contains the Native+ synbiotic blend. Zero added sugar.
- Fountain Cola Organic fermented kombucha soda with classic cola flavor, slight spiciness, and smooth vanilla finish. Contains the Native+ synbiotic blend for gut health support.
- Juicy Grape Organic fermented kombucha soda with classic grape flavor and a hint of lime, made with organic Concord grape juice. Contains the Native+ synbiotic blend.
- Lemon Lime Organic fermented kombucha soda with citrus (lemon lime) flavor. Contains the Native+ synbiotic blend for gut health support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3g sugar per can (from organic apple juice only)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use LIVE Soda
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
LIVE Soda technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
LIVE Soda partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Natural GrocerscoreNatural Grocers is a confirmed retail partner where LIVE Soda products are sold. Multiple customer testimonials reference purchasing from Natural Grocers stores as their primary shopping location. According to store feedback cited by customers, LIVE Soda's Cream Soda is a top seller.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
LIVE Soda competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Poppi: Poppi is a prebiotic soda brand with comparable price point, target consumer (health-conscious soda drinkers), and flavor portfolio. Recently acquired by a strategic buyer, Poppi is one of the most well-funded and broadly distributed players in the functional soda category, making it a key direct competitor to LIVE Soda.
- Health-Ade Kombucha: Health-Ade is one of the leading independently-held kombucha brands in the U.S., selling organic, fermented kombucha with live probiotics through DTC, natural food stores, and mainstream grocers. It competes directly with LIVE Soda for health-conscious consumers seeking functional fermented beverages, though with a more traditional kombucha flavor profile.
- Humm Kombucha: Humm is an independent, small-batch kombucha brand with a flavor-forward portfolio and natural foods distribution. It is a comparable independent operator in the same category as LIVE Soda, with similar scale and channel mix.
- Brew Dr. Kombucha: Brew Dr. is an organic, B-Corp certified kombucha brand with a similar flavor-forward, natural-ingredient positioning. It overlaps with LIVE Soda in distribution channels (natural food stores, grocery) and target consumer (organic, health-conscious kombucha drinkers).
- Olipop: Olipop is a venture-backed functional soda positioned in the same 'better-for-you soda' category as LIVE Soda, with similar price points ($36/12-pack range) and gut-health claims. Both brands target health-conscious consumers seeking nostalgic soda flavors without added sugar, making Olipop the most direct comparable competitor.
Emerging players
- De La Calle Tepache: De La Calle is a Mexican-inspired fermented pineapple soda positioned as a healthier alternative to traditional soft drinks. It overlaps with LIVE Soda in the fermented soda / functional beverage niche, targeting similar health-conscious consumers seeking unique, better-for-you alternatives.
- Aqua ViTea Kombucha: Aqua ViTea is a small-to-mid scale craft kombucha producer selling organic, raw kombucha through DTC, natural food stores, and regional grocery. It is comparable to LIVE Soda as a similarly-sized independent player in the organic kombucha space with a similar distribution footprint.
- Culture Pop Soda: Culture Pop is a smaller, emerging fermented soda brand with a similar positioning to LIVE Soda — combining probiotic benefits with mainstream soda flavors. It represents a comparable niche player competing for the same early-adopter, gut-health-focused consumer base.
Broad incumbents
- GT's Living Foods: GT's is the largest and most established kombucha brand in the U.S., founded in the 1990s and sold in mainstream grocery nationwide. It is the category leader LIVE Soda competes against for shelf space, retailer mindshare, and consumer awareness in the fermented functional beverage space.
- KeVita: KeVita is a sparkling probiotic beverage brand owned by PepsiCo, offering fermented, low-sugar drinks. As a large incumbent with corporate backing and extensive distribution, it competes for similar consumer occasions and retail placement as LIVE Soda but with significantly greater resources.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
LIVE Soda social profiles
Digital presenceLIVE Soda compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
LIVE Soda financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LIVE Soda leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
LIVE Soda funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LIVE Soda 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 LIVE Soda
What does LIVE Soda do?
LIVE Soda manufactures and sells organic, authentically fermented kombucha sodas in six classic flavors (Luscious Cream, Root Beer, Doctor Cherry Berry, Fountain Cola, Juicy Grape, Lemon Lime). Each product contains the proprietary Native+™ Synbiotic Blend combining prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, with zero added sugar and USDA Organic certification. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce subscription and one-time purchases, as well as through wholesale to health food stores and grocery retailers.
Is LIVE Soda a public or private company?
LIVE Soda is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was LIVE Soda founded?
LIVE Soda was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LIVE Soda based?
LIVE Soda is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does LIVE Soda make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription Service and wholesale Distribution.
Who are LIVE Soda's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Poppi, Health-Ade Kombucha, Humm Kombucha, Brew Dr. Kombucha and Olipop. Emerging players are De La Calle Tepache, Aqua ViTea Kombucha and Culture Pop Soda. Broad incumbents are GT's Living Foods and KeVita.
Does LIVE Soda have an API?
No public API is recorded for LIVE Soda.
What industry is LIVE Soda in?
LIVE Soda's product category is Functional Fermented Beverages. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAHAA, Kombucha Production, with a secondary code of AFAFABAK, Kombucha & Other Fermented Non-Alcoholic Beverages. Its NAICS code is 312111 and its SIC code is 2080.