Asarasi

About the offering

Asarasi is a tree-sourced beverage company that upcycles the 97% of maple sap discarded during syrup production into a portfolio of USDA Organic sparkling waters, probiotic seltzers, and Nekter Pop functional sodas. The company holds the world's only USDA Organic certification for unflavored tree water and positions itself as creating a new beverage category that conserves groundwater while generating new revenue streams for family farms.The ProblemThe bottled beverage industry consumes over 100 billion gallons of groundwater annually, contributing to aquifer depletion and environmental degradation. The UN estimates that by 2030, global water demand will exceed supply by 40%. Traditional beverage brands exacerbate this crisis by extracting from aquifers and municipal sources. Meanwhile, consumers increasingly demand sustainable, healthy, and pure hydration options—73% of global consumers prefer brands supporting environmental causes and 66% seek sugar-free, healthy drinks.The SolutionAsarasi sources water exclusively from maple trees, transforming a byproduct of maple syrup production into a sustainable beverage platform. For every 50 gallons of maple sap harvested, 49 gallons of tree water are typically discarded. Asarasi filters out the maple sugar, adds light carbonation or organic fruit essences, and packages in glass or aluminum. The product portfolio includes sparkling tree water and mixers, probiotic seltzers with 2 billion CFUs of Bacillus Subtilis per serving, and Nekter Pop probiotic sodas (which retain the maple nectar). Independent testing confirms the tree water is free of heavy metals, microplastics, and radiological materials. The company holds contracts with 130+ major maple farms in the US and Canada representing access to an estimated 100 million gallons of tree water annually, with plans to reach 900 million gallons by 2027.Business ModelRevenue comes from branded beverage sales through retail distribution, online platforms (Amazon, Walmart.com, Asarasi.com, Faire.com), direct-to-business delivery through partners like Primo/BlueTriton ReadyRefresh, and international distribution. The company also operates a private-label program. The raise is on a convertible note at a $15 million valuation cap.TractionThe company reports approximately $2.1 million in total lifetime revenues since becoming operational in 2017. Key distribution milestones include Sprouts Farmers Market launching Nekter Pop nationwide in approximately 480 stores in April 2026 (Sprouts projects $2.6M retail / $1.3M gross wholesale to Asarasi), Wakefern Food Corp (ShopRite, Fairway, etc.) distributing across 300+ stores beginning March 2026 ($800K projected retail / ~$500K wholesale), Costco advancing through vendor approval with a buy-doc submitted and potential initial delivery targeted for May–June 2026, Primo/BlueTriton ReadyRefresh distributing across California via 500+ trucks making 35,000 daily stops, and CDLUSA/Prestige Maple providing exclusive international distribution with access to 100,000+ stores across 90 countries. Additional placements include Northwestern Mutual office buildings and the Jacksonville Jaguars training facility. The company projects 450%+ revenue growth and $1.5 million in recurring revenue by December 2026 (not guaranteed) and an aspirational $100M revenue target by 2030 (not guaranteed). Previous collaboration with Anheuser-Busch produced two craft beers using tree water through Goose Island and Wicked Weed breweries.Market OpportunityThe global packaged water market is valued at $300 billion, growing at 6.7% CAGR to $500 billion by 2030. Functional beverages add $60 billion in addressable markets. The company estimates the tree-sourced beverage sub-category represents a $20 billion wholesale market opportunity based on 1 billion gallons of maple tree water produced annually across North America. In the functional soda space, Poppi was acquired by PepsiCo for $1.95 billion in 2025 and Olipop is valued at $1.85 billion, establishing significant comparable valuations in the category.TeamFounder and CEO Adam Lazar won $500K from 43North in 2017 to launch Asarasi, competing against thousands of businesses. He holds an MBA from Norwich University and has over a decade of leadership experience in the tree water category. Co-Founder Aku Orraca-Tetteh is a primary member of the 7x Grammy-nominated band Florence + The Machine, bringing creative vision and cultural influence to brand marketing. He holds a BA from Amherst College and will lead the Asarasi Paparazzi ambassador marketing group. Strategic Advisor Catherine Polisi Jones is President and Founder of Polisi Jones, a strategic advisory firm involved in major M&A transactions over the past 25 years, including managing the financial crisis for Lehman Brothers.RecognitionAwards include $500,000 from 43North (2017), Gold Medal for Best Tasting Sparkling Water at the 2020 Berkeley Springs International Bottled Water Awards, Anheuser-Busch 100+ Accelerator winner (2021), 2025 Mindful Awards for Sparkling Water Product of the Year, and the 2026 Local Wellness Supplier Summit win with Wakefern Food Corp.

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