LifeFuels

LifeFuels operates in the beverage technology sector, offering a portable system for creating personalized drinks. The company was founded in 2014 by Jonathon Perrelli and Rob Lawson-Shanks. The inspiration for the business reportedly came to Perrelli in 2006 when seeking an easier way for his pregnant wife to manage her nutritional intake and hydration.

The core of the business is a three-part system: a smart, technology-enabled bottle, consumable flavor and nutrient concentrates called FuelPods, and a companion mobile app. The bottle is designed to hold up to three FuelPods at once, allowing users to dispense and mix concentrates into their water. This system enables the creation of customized functional beverages tailored to specific needs like energy, recovery, or general wellness. The accompanying app tracks hydration levels, nutrient consumption, and provides users with actionable insights based on this data. The bottle itself features a black anodized aluminum base containing the electronics and a 500ml plastic bottle that screws into it. It utilizes technologies like ultrasonic waves for water level sensing and RFID to recognize the individual FuelPods inserted into its three bays.

LifeFuels' business model is centered on the sale of the smart bottle and recurring revenue from the consumable FuelPods, likening it to a Keurig model for sports drinks. The bottle, initially priced at $179, was later offered through a subscription plan for $99, which included the bottle and a recurring supply of FuelPods. After showcasing prototypes at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for several years, the company officially launched its product to consumers in September 2019. LifeFuels secured significant funding, including a $5.3 million seed round in 2017 and a Series A investment from Keurig Dr. Pepper. However, the company ceased operations in March 2021, with the founder citing the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business. In late 2021, Utah-based Infuze Hydration acquired LifeFuels, with plans to relaunch the product and integrate it with its own offerings.

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