Home / BigDeal / #94 Broke to Billionaire: How to Turn a Sidehustle Into Your Salary | Allison Ellsworth

#94 Broke to Billionaire: How to Turn a Sidehustle Into Your Salary | Allison Ellsworth

BigDeal

Sep 24, 2025

1h 18m

Description

Join me as I sit down with Allison Ellsworth, the co-founder of Poppi, who built a billion-dollar soda company from scratch. Allison shares her incredible journey from working in oil and gas to landing a life-changing deal on Shark Tank. Discover her secrets to successful branding, attracting celebrity partnerships, and navigating a multi-billion dollar acquisition by Pepsi. We dive deep into the challenges she faced, the pivotal moments, and her invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Don't miss her insights on how to pitch investors and build a thriving community around your brand. If you’ve ever wanted to launch a brand, today’s episode is for you.

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00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:37 From Oil and Gas to Beverage Industry
00:06:19 Health Issues and the Birth of Poppy
00:08:44 Navigating Early Challenges and Going Digital
00:14:28 Building a Billion Dollar Brand
00:15:54 The Importance of Team and Culture
00:23:40 Personal Life and Business Balance
00:30:27 Celebrity Endorsements and Marketing Strategies
00:35:10 The Road to Acquisition by Pepsi
00:36:53 The Right Time for Acquisition
00:37:28 Building Relationships for Success
00:38:06 Challenges as a Female CEO
00:39:51 Handling Disrespect and Conflict
00:40:44 The Importance of a Business Coach
00:47:17 Balancing Passion and Profit
00:50:06 Letting Go of Control
00:51:26 Hiring and Culture Fit
00:56:22 Brand Building and Community
01:08:38 Inspiring the Next Generation

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