Air Up has been attracting considerable interest from the USA for some time now: Already in January 2021 The American beverage giant Pepsi has joined the Munich-based company and has September 2021 then added fresh capital. Since April this year, the Hollywood couple Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher invested in the drinking bottle startup. Israeli-American entrepreneur Guy Oseary has also secured shares in Air Up, as the company announced on its LinkedIn page announced. With its entry into the US market, the startup claims to be completing the largest expansion step in its history.
Air Up wants to relocate production to Europe
Air Up already employs 35 people at its US office in Santa Monica, Southern California. Its global headquarters will remain in Munich. The startup also announced that it plans to relocate most of its drinking bottle production from Asia to Europe by the end of the year.
Founded in 2018, the startup builds drinking bottles that can be fitted with scent capsules distributed by the Munich-based company itself. The bottles are filled with tap water. When consumed, the scent capsules add flavor to the water, even though you're only consuming pure water.
Co-founders Lena Jüngst and Tim Jäger wrote their bachelor's thesis on the prototype of the drinking bottle. Fabian Schlang, who also studied the topic as part of his studies, participated in the founding process. Jannis Koppitz and Simon Nüesch joined the company shortly afterwards as co-founders.
