LifeFuels

LifeFuels operates in the beverage technology sector, centered on a portable, smart beverage-maker system. The company was founded by Jonathon Perrelli and Rob Lawson-Shanks, with the initial concept sparking in 2006 from Perrelli's personal experience observing his wife's nutritional challenges during pregnancy. The venture formally launched in 2014, aiming to create a product that could help consumers enhance their water with nutrients and track consumption on the go.

The core of the business is a three-part ecosystem: a technology-equipped smart bottle, consumable flavor and nutrient cartridges called FuelPods, and a companion mobile app. The anodized aluminum bottle holds 16.9 ounces (500ml) of water and features a base that houses up to three FuelPods. This base contains the dispensing mechanism and electronics, allowing users to infuse their water with flavor and functional ingredients like electrolytes, vitamins, and antioxidants at the touch of a button or via the app. The app serves as the control center, enabling users to track their hydration levels, monitor nutrient intake, and customize beverage flavor and strength. High-frequency RFID tags on the FuelPods were also integrated to streamline manufacturing and inventory processes.

The company's business model relied on the initial sale of the smart bottle, followed by recurring revenue from the sale of FuelPods. A subscription service was introduced, offering the bottle at a discounted price with a monthly shipment of FuelPods. LifeFuels secured significant funding, including a $5 million seed round in 2017 and a Series A investment from Keurig Dr. Pepper. After seven years of operation and launching its product to consumers in late 2019, LifeFuels ceased operations in March 2021, citing the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business. Later that year, in October 2021, Utah-based Infuze Hydration acquired LifeFuels, with plans to relaunch the product and integrate its own elixirs into the system.

Keywords: smart water bottle, beverage technology, personalized nutrition, hydration tracking, functional beverages, FuelPods, portable beverage maker, Infuze Hydration, Jonathon Perrelli, Rob Lawson-Shanks, Keurig Dr. Pepper, smart bottle, nutrient delivery, wellness technology, IoT device, consumer electronics, health tech, custom drinks, vitamin dispenser, electrolyte drink system