Mornings have coffee.
Afternoons have ōku®.
Conscious Energy® for the afternoon lull+.
pronounced “OH-koo”
Rooted in Japanese, meaning
“Restoring the essence within.”
The philosophy behind everything we make — a return to what energy was always meant to be: calm, capable, and alive, without taking from the body that carries you through the day.
We call it Conscious Energy®.
The Promise
Energy that gives, not takes.
Built on collaborative ingredients.
The Opportunity
The afternoon is the largest
unclaimed daypart in energy.
A large, underserved occasion open for energy that gives, not takes.
178M Americans caffeinate daily; ~22% in the afternoon (~39M) × ~3×/week × $3.50/serving. Our 2031 plan ($45M) ≈ 0.2%.
Coffee owns morning. Afternoon is wide open.
When Americans drink coffee, by time of day (% of past-day coffee drinkers, NCA Spring 2026)
After the morning rush, the category clears out — the afternoon sits unclaimed.
Two different cravings
Wake up. Lock in. Get out the door.
Part recharge, part reward: the daily comeback.
Sources: NCA Spring 2026 National Coffee Data Trends (time-of-day shares); Mitchell et al. 2025, Food & Chemical Toxicology (69% of Americans consume a caffeinated beverage daily); FMI 2025–26 daypart snacking data (afternoon = largest snacking occasion). · Afternoon market: ~178M daily coffee adults × 22% afternoon share (NCA Spring 2026); × ~3×/week × ~$3.50/serving (conservative). Category size: Grand View Research, U.S. Energy Drinks, 2024.
The Biology
The afternoon lull is biology — 4 signals firing at once.
At 2 PM, the body is doing exactly what it is wired to do.
Cortisol Drops
Alertness hormone peaks 30–45 min after waking, then declines all day. By 2 PM, well below morning levels.
Adenosine Accumulates
“Sleep pressure” builds with every waking hour. By 2 PM, 6–8 hours of buildup is palpable.
The Circadian Dip
Hard-wired alertness drops between 1–4 PM. Body temperature falls. Cognition measurably drops.
The Serotonin Dip
Lunch spikes insulin → serotonin briefly rises → falls. The dip is why a sugar craving can show up out of nowhere.
The body isn't asking for stimulation. It's asking to be replenished.
The Tax
Four defaults. All four carry a tax on the body.
Your adrenals. Your stomach. Your sleep. Your weight.
Coffee.
Another hit of caffeine your adrenals don’t need. Jitters you don’t want. Sleep you’ll sacrifice tonight.
Energy drinks.
Aggressive. Artificial. Designed to spike, not sustain. Your body feels it for hours in the wrong way.
Caffeinated Diet Sodas.
Use artificial sweeteners, which may alter insulin signaling, increase sweet cravings, impact microbiome composition.
Candy & chocolate.
A sugar rush that lasts twenty minutes and crashes. Sugar spikes glucose, triggers insulin.
Each takes. None give.
The Solution — Energy That Gives, Not Takes
From tax to gift.
Ingredients designed to work with the body instead of against it, in a craveable gummy format.
Calibrated lift. No jitters. No spike. No crash. The system stays steady.
Extends and smooths energy release. Supports satiety and gut health.
Replenishing what the day has taken from your defenses.
A purposeful organic blend to be mindful of glycemic impact.
Replenishes rather than Depletes.
Smooth rather than Spiked.
Sustained rather than followed by a Crash.
*per 5-gummy serving.
The Lineup
Four craveable flavors.
Same Conscious Energy® in every pouch. Four ways to crave it.
The Ingredients
Collaborative energy ingredients.
Ingredients designed to replenish the body rather than tax it.
Green Tea
Clean, plant-based caffeine that includes L-theanine — for focus without the spike or the jitters.
Yerba Mate
A second source of plant caffeine layered for a smooth, sustained energy curve rather than a crash.
Tapioca Fiber
Smooths the energy peaks, supports the gut, and extends release so the lift lasts.
Goji Berry
A traditional adaptogen known for cellular protection — recovery built into the lift.
Coconut Water
Natural potassium and trace minerals to keep you hydrated through the moments that ask more of you.
Allulose
Found in figs, raisins, and maple syrup. Sweet, not sugar — virtually no glycemic impact and no calories.
Conscious Brand
Conscious Energy® by design.
Conscious in what goes in.
- Manufactured in the USA from carefully sourced worldwide ingredients
- Collaborative ingredients chosen to give back, not take
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Dietary inclusive: plant-based & vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free
Conscious in what holds it.
- Made from 40% post-consumer recycled material
- Single-serving format — portable, on-the-go ritual
- Designed with minimal material waste
Conscious in who's behind it.
- Women-owned and founder-led
- Impact partnership with B1G1 Business for Good — established at inception, contributions activate as the business reaches profitability
- Built for everyone — by people who care about the body, the planet, and the community
Conscious Energy® — for the body, the planet, and the people behind it.
The Plus (+)
Anchored in the afternoon. Suitable all day.
Afternoon Lull+
The primary moment ōku was built for.
Morning Coffee Alternative
For those who don’t, can’t, or want an alternative to coffee. A clean morning lift – no jitters, no crash.
Pre-Movement
Padel, pickleball, tennis, gym, yoga, hike, run, ride, or swim. Clean energy for focus.
Deep Work Sprint
High-stakes meeting, tight deadline, creative block. Steady focus that keeps you in the room.
Travel Day
Flights, layovers, time zones. Jet lag is just another afternoon lull — keep your rhythm intact.
Study Session
Cram, late reading, exam day. Calm, sustained focus when the work has to get done.
Trial → repeat → ritual.
The afternoon makes ōku daily. The other four keep it weekly or more.
Competitive Landscape
ōku is the only product purpose-built to give, not take.
 ōku |  Honey Stinger |  Celsius |  Grande Latte |  Snickers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | 60mg | 50mg | 200mg | 150mg | 5-8mg |
| Sugar | 7g | 17g | 0g* | 18g | 27g |
| Fiber | 4g | 0g | 0g | 0g | 1g |
| Calories | 70 | 160 | 10 | 190 | 250 |
*Celsius uses sucralose, an artificial sweetener. Grande Latte assumes made with 2% milk; sugar is primarily milk sugar (lactose) not added sugar. Coffee/candy values are category averages. Sources: GrandView Research; Fortune Business Insights.
The Macro Wave
At the Center of Massive High-Growth Categories.
ōku sits at the intersection of five large, fast-growing US consumer categories.
Sources: GrandView Research; Fortune Business Insights; IMARC Group; NovaOne Advisor.
Track Record
From two years of R&D to Sprouts national trial.
Every milestone earned. Every channel chosen for repeat. Third-party validation along the way.
Built the Product
Two years of formulation, taste, and texture R&D to get the gummy right.
Amazon Launch
Amazon-ready product live with 2-serving resealable bags.
Sprouts Regional Trial
38-store SoCal regional trial; sold out in 60 of 90 days, earning offer for national trial before end of regional trial.
Brandjectory x DreamMakers +
Entrepreneur Ventures x Shopline
Brandjectory x DreamMakers Pitch Slam winner = investment + recognition in CPG community. Entrepreneur Ventures x Shopline incubator = investment + Entrepreneur Media access.
Padel Strategy Launched
1st padel tournament sponsorship (1st FIP tournament in US) — kicking off the sport-as-ritual partnership playbook. Semi-final player asked for ōku mid-match, validating opportunity.
Product Update +
Padel Sponsorship
Single-serve pouch redesign (legacy 2-serving bags sold to TJX companies); Signed the #1 American female padel pro, Brittany Dubins.
Naturally Network – Top 5 Finalist
Selected as 1 of 5 finalists in San Diego Naturally Rising Pitch Competition — visibility with investors, distributors, retailers, and operators across the natural-products ecosystem.
Projected Food Service Launch
Based on current pipeline by food service broker.
Sprouts National & C-Store Trials
Sprouts national checkout trial. 1st group of brands selected for new program (with KeHE as distributor). Selected for major CPG company incubator for 100 c-store test.
18 months: Amazon → Sprouts national trial.
Padel beachhead live. Major CPG c-store test ahead.
Distribution Strategy
Four channels. One playbook.
Each channel chosen because it shortens the path to daily ritual — and anchored by an operator who's won here before.
Anchored by Food Service broker with deep relationships with Canteen, Compass, Aramark, Vistar, Cantaloupe/365 Marketplace, RDS Vending, Military.
Same people, same desks, every workday — the captive 2 PM lull becomes habit without thinking. Highest-margin channel; highest-frequency moment.
Anchored by Food broker with long Sprouts history and great expertise (prior brand sold to Sprouts).
Front-end checkout 2-mth trial at the store's highest-velocity touch point. Supplemented by on-site demo program, Instacart, and coupon promotions to accelerate success. $100K revenue.
Anchored by Fractional Amazon specialist plus former CEO of #1 grocery brand on Amazon.
Subscribe & Save makes ritual literal. 50%+ Amazon repeat rate proves the habit. TikTok + creator engine feeds the funnel. Avg review 4.5★.
Anchored by #1 American female padel player (+ 5 other ambassadors) · founder Aspen + San Diego networks (including YPO) · 30-year fitness executive with expansive network.
High frequency environments: padel clubs, fitness chains, spa/wellness. 100 c-store test Fall 2026 - selection into major CPG company incubator.
Financial
5-Year Projections.
Revenue growth trajectory based on current traction and planned expansion.
| Year | Gross Revenue | Gross Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $600K | 54% |
| 2027 | $2M | 58% |
| 2028 | $6M | 56% |
| 2029 | $14M | 58% |
| 2030 | $28M | 61% |
| 2031 | $45M | 64% |
Margins expand with volume — today’s pricing reflects start-up MOQs; scale unlocks target contribution margin. 50%+ Amazon repeat rate underpins lifetime value.
*Note: 2026 projections assume $1,000,000 capital raise completed by 7/31/2026. Key drivers: 2026 Amazon + Sprouts trial; 2027+ Food Service + national retail expansion. Additional financial information available upon request.
Founder & CEO
Led by passion. Backed by proven experience.
A serial entrepreneur with a history of pioneering in new spaces. Carolyn was a Computer Science major when few women were in the field, thrived on Wall Street in the 1980s, served as International President of mp3.com — the first internet music platform, which went public at a $300M valuation — and founded three financial services companies.
A former college tennis athlete and 1st Place winner of the UCLA Anderson Business Plan Competition. Member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) since 2001, co-founded the Aspen chapter, with access to a worldwide network of 36,000+ CEOs.
“ōku is my ikigai — where passion, purpose, experience, and impact intersect.”Carolyn J. Hamlet – Always in Motion
Team
Lean execution. Specialist depth.
Ryan Kingsbury
(Kingsbury Digital)
Owns the Amazon channel — listings, ad spend, Subscribe & Save, repeat-rate optimization.
Lauren Sweeney
(Lauren Kathleen Consulting)
Runs organic + paid social across Instagram and LinkedIn.
Shane Parkes
(Sparke Consulting, LLC)
Finance & bookkeeping.
Luke Abbott
(vDriven)
Founder/CEO, vDriven, growth partner for natural CPG and retail ecosystem. Built & sold Monterrey Provisions to KeHE and demo company to Sprouts.
Dennis Lock
(DLM-USA)
Deep relationships with multiple national food service operators and military channels.
Food Scientist & Label Compliance
35+ years innovating sweet confectionary products. Expert in labeling, food safety, compliance, and quality assurance.
Manufacturing Partner
FDA Registered · GMP Compliant · NSF Certified · ISO 9001:2015. Excellent partnership.
*Capital-efficient by design — fractional senior leadership + specialist partners across every function.
Board & Advisors
Operators. Builders.
A brand-strategy bench.
Ken Hamlet
Former President and CEO of Holiday Inns Inc. 30+ years of corporate leadership, governance, brand building.
Patti Larchet
Former CEO of Jenny Craig. Operational and scaling expertise from leading major wellness and portion-controlled consumer programs.
Jeff Church
Co-founder and former CEO of Suja Juice (acquired by Coca-Cola, $300M). Premium CPG scaling and exits.
Doug R. Harrison
Consumer brand builder. Strategic positioning, messaging, and scaling roadmap. Vendor of the year at Coca-Cola.
Jeff Stiefler
Former President of American Express. Strategic counsel on business strategy.
Silvia Mah, PhD
Leading advocate for female-led ventures. Strategic funding and structuring guidance.
Oscar Amador Torres
CEO of Ogilvy Nicaragua. Marketing and branding expertise.
*All advisors and board members are also investors in ōku.
The Ask
Join the Conscious Energy® Movement.
Energy that gives, not takes — for the afternoon lull+ and every moment that asks for more.
Pre-Seed Round
Ahead of our Aug 3 national Sprouts trial.
Use of funds.
What this $1M funds.
- Win the Aug 3 Sprouts national trial → permanent placement: demos, Instacart ads, coupons, and targeted social.
- Launch Food Service: our highest-margin, highest-frequency channel into the captive 2 PM lull.
- Own the afternoon ritual: Amazon growth + the padel community — a wellness-forward Gen Z/Millennial audience that mirrors both our consumer and the Sprouts shopper, concentrated in FL, TX, CA & CO where Sprouts overlaps. Demographic and geographic fit compound into efficient, double-duty spend.
The Exit Opportunity.
In April 2026, Unilever acquired Grüns – a functional gummy brand founded in 2023 – for $1.2B. Strategic buyers including Keurig Dr Pepper, Nestlé Health Science, Hershey, Unilever, and Mondelēz are actively building better-for-you functional snack portfolios. ōku is being built to be acquisition-ready as a premium target.
Proven Playbook
Better-for-You Challengers. Premium Exits.
Each one took a category and created a massive outcome.
Poppi
Redefined soda from unhealthy cheat treat into a daily gut-health ritual. Created a massive consumer category.
Liquid I.V.
Redefined hydration delivery. Built an incredible wholesale and retail distribution network before exit.
OLLY
Brought delight and aesthetics to the boring vitamin aisle. Gummy format made wellness fun and daily.
Hu Chocolate
Redefined candy bar into a clean, paleo-friendly luxury indulgence. Sourced high-quality ingredients.
Grüns
Turned green powders into a daily gummy ritual. Reached massive scale in under three years.
Why Believe
Built to win. Hard to copy.
A challenger’s edge is built, not given — here’s why ōku wins, and why it stays won.
Habit, not impulse
The afternoon lull is biological and recurring — so is the purchase. 50%+ Amazon repeat and Subscribe & Save turn a sale into a subscription.
Community lock-in
Claiming padel courtside — where no energy brand exists yet — with the #1 American female pro, 5 ambassadors, and a Pro Padel League sponsorship.
We own the category
Conscious Energy® and ōku® are registered marks — we own the language, not just a product — plus two years of proprietary formulation.
Relationship-gated distribution
Our channels run on people: brokers with Sprouts history and deep Food Service and military relationships (Canteen, Compass, Aramark). Those desks aren’t buyable overnight.
A board you can’t replicate
Suja (sold to Coca-Cola), Jenny Craig, Holiday Inns, American Express — plus a 36,000-CEO YPO network. Access most pre-seed brands can’t buy.
Authentic mission
Women-owned, B1G1 impact at inception, 40% PCR packaging. “Conscious” can’t be retrofitted — rivals copy a formula, not a founding story.
A platform, not a product.
ōku is the wedge; Conscious Energy® is the platform for energy, with room to grow across formats — and the vision extends to a house of purpose-built “Conscious” brands across adjacent conditions, each its own platform.
Competitors can match one of these. Matching all of it is a new company.
Thank you!
Appendix
before
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beforeWhat Customers Are Saying
Real people. Real moments. Real results.
From verified customers who bought it, used it, and told us about their experience.
“My husband used to grab a Celsius every afternoon — he's completely switched to ōku instead. Clean, steady energy without the jitters. Delicious and so easy to toss in your bag.”
“I use these right before a tennis match when I need my focus. Replaced my tea entirely. Delicious, low sugar, no additives. So happy I found ōku.”
“As an endurance athlete, ōku has been a game-changer. Less sugar, a much healthier option — and absolutely delicious. I fuel my body through long events and feel better overall.”
“ōku saved me. Gave me back the energy to work my day job and still get a workout in at the end of the day. I've tried all the flavors and love them all.”
“These energy gummies are so good! Amazing clean ingredients, eats like candy and has just the right amount AND right kind of caffeine kick. Perfect for my afternoon pick me up when it's 'too late' for coffee, or when I'm on the go. Love the flavors!”
“It wasn't an anxious caffeine buzz — it wasn't fleeting either. Just a calm sense of focus I hadn't accessed in a long time. These gummies taste amazing and serve their purpose without being overpowering or gimmicky.”
What Customers Are Saying · Cont.
More verified voices.
“I love the ōku chews. They are easy to keep in my pickleball bag. I just reach for a few chews if I'm feeling low on energy and I get a little boost. Not a jittery boost and not a boost that will keep me up at night. I love the flavor and have to stop myself from eating too many since they taste so good. Grateful that they are lower in sugar and use more natural types of supplements that give you energy!”
“I play volleyball for hours on end and these are the perfect snack to bring to the beach. They give me the extra boost of energy and focus I need to keep playing well — and they don't hurt my stomach like other gummies. The flavor and texture are simply delicious.”
“I love the taste. I eat a pack after I lift weights and before I start my cardio. It gives me the energy boost I need to finish my routine. I also like the fact it doesn't give me a headache or jitters like caffeine does.”
“ōku Energy Gummies with Caffeine from Green Tea & Yerba Mate are slightly sweetened by organic dextrose and cane sugar. I don't taste the earthy and bitter notes from Yerba mate or green tea, just the genuine flavors such as grape, strawberry, pineapple orange. My favorite are orange and grape. Infused with ingredients such as coconut water and goji berry powder, they provide a quick hydration boost. Vegan and Gluten-Free, they have a chewy texture, but don't stick to my teeth. They do a good job at increasing my energy level and keeping me focused without the jitters from caffeine. The Variety Pack contains 8 Individual pouches in each bag. Each pouch is small enough to fit in my pocket so I can take it on the go. The price is comparable to similar energy products.”
“Caffeine, green tea and coconut water! What more could you hope for in a delicious and very effective energy chew? The taste is great: refreshing with no icky aftertaste. The texture is smooth and not cloying or artificially sticky. These chews are a great source of hydration as well as a quick boost of energy to get you going. I end up seeking them out mid-morning to get me 'til lunch and mid-afternoon to get me to the end of the workday. Try them—I bet you like them too!”
“This review is for the ōku brand of energy gummies (8 packs, multi-flavor). So as it turns out I just finished the last of these about an hour before writing this review which means they are getting the whole 5 stars out of 5: they were yummy. Each little 5-gummy pack has 60mg caffeine from green tea and yerba mate so you get a smooth mild energy boost in a nice snack with a reasonably low amount of calories. The variety pack flavors were orange, pineapple, grape and strawberry. The product is produced domestically. I can't think of any reason not to give this my highest recommendation.”
Earned Media & Community
Earning trust in the open.
Community Deep Dive
Padel: our beachhead community.
Two brands growing together — ōku and U.S. padel are both early.
Brittany Dubins · #1 American female padel pro · signed ambassador, ōku.
The opportunity – become the default energy ritual
- Invented in Acapulco, 1969 — only now arriving in the U.S.
- 1.07M U.S. players in 2025; ~35M players globally (FIP). U.S. is ~3%. The runway is the story.
- 1,000+ courts across 31 states by 2026 — up from <20 in 2019.
- Players avg. 2–3× per week in 60-120 min sessions = captive courtside audience — optimal cadence for repeat.
- Brittany Dubins (#1 American female pro) signed + 5 ambassadors — spreading the word through social media, peer-to-peer, and providing intros to padel facilities. Pro Padel League team sponsor at the July 2026 tournament — major visibility, exposure, credibility.
Why ōku fits
- No functional energy or snack brand has claimed courtside, yet.
- Players skew Gen Z + Millennial: wellness-aware, ingredient-conscious, repeat-buying.
- ōku fits natively — a clean product that supports your body with collaborative ingredients: clean caffeine, no jitters, gummy made for a racquet bag.
The strategy: Earn the default position via tournament + league sponsorships, club & event activations, and voices that travel — pros, club pros, league organizers. Some existing community overlap with and natural evolution to pickleball and tennis communities.
Packaging
Single-serve, on-the-go ritual.
