In this episode of Harvest to Pour we interview Robyn Zlotkin, CEO of Sword Performance, a company specializing in healthy hydration products designed to combat heat stress. Robyn explains that Soar Performance’s products Sword and Shield, are all-natural, free of preservatives, and optimized for efficient absorption. She highlights the product's origins in aiding cancer patients and its current application in industrial settings to prevent heat stress among workers. Robyn shares her journey from being a customer to becoming the CEO, the challenges of scaling a startup, and the company’s strategic focus on the industrial market. She also discusses the unique taste-adaptive feature of their product and the importance of maintaining a streamlined product line to ensure quality and consistency.
Key takeaways
- Robyn joined Sword Performance after being introduced to the product as the first industrial customer, realizing the need for proper hydration in that sector
- As CEO she helped scale the business and manage cash flow challenges faced by startups
- Sword Performance formulates their drinks with minimal ingredients to be absorbed quickly without extra additives
- Their products have a unique "taste adaptive" feature where flavor changes based on user's activity level and sweat rate
- Robin focuses on marketing to business customers like utilities and manufacturing through distribution partners
- She aims to double business annually by expanding internationally to Australia and the Middle East
- Robyn emphasizes lessons learned around prioritizing profitability, cash flow, and keeping offerings simple