056: How to Start a Beverage Company | Gnari Hydration

I sat down with Navid, founder and CEO of Gnari Hydration and Gnari Garage, to talk about what it really takes to turn an idea into a product, build a business in an industry you know nothing about, and keep going when the process becomes more expensive, time-consuming, and overwhelming than expected.

 

Gnari Hydration started with a simple concept: create a different kind of hydration drink using carbonated water, lime, honey, and Himalayan salt without added sugar. But taking something that works at home and turning it into a commercially produced beverage became a much bigger challenge than Navid originally anticipated.

 

We get into how his background in mechanical engineering and years of building Gnari Garage gave him the ability to fund the project without immediately bringing in outside investors. Navid shares how he entered the beverage industry with very little knowledge of how drinks are actually developed, researched beverage labs, worked through months of formulation and testing, and learned how much can change once a homemade recipe enters a professional production environment.

 

We also talk about the entrepreneurial side of the journey—the long hours, money spent, time away from family and other businesses, and the point where Navid seriously considered stepping away from Gnari Hydration altogether. Instead, he asked people around him for help, divided responsibilities across the team, and found a way to keep moving the project toward the finish line.

 

Navid also shares his perspective on mentorship, networking, investors, and why entrepreneurs should not be afraid to ask questions or talk about their ideas with the right people. He explains why friends and family became an informal advisory board and test group for Gnari Hydration, how honest feedback helped improve the product, and why he believes you have to genuinely believe in what you are building before you can expect anyone else to believe in it.

 

We also get into his broader entrepreneurial story, including nearly two decades of doing engineering work on the side, providing value before focusing on immediate payment, and eventually turning that experience into successful businesses of his own.

 

Toward the end of the conversation, Navid shares what is next for Gnari Hydration, including plans for additional flavors and product lines. He also brings out an early health and wellness shot that had not yet been shared publicly and lets me try it for the first time on the podcast.

 

Beyond the hydration drink itself, this conversation is really about entrepreneurship, persistence, relationships, asking for help, and being willing to build something even when you do not have every answer at the beginning.

 

If you are building a business, developing a product, thinking about entrepreneurship, or simply curious about how a beverage goes from an idea to an actual product on the shelf, there is a lot to take away from Navid’s journey.

 

Connect with Gnari Hydration and Navid:

Web: https://www.gnarihydration.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/gnarihydration/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/gnarigarage/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ducati_life/

 

Giveaways

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11/14 Nick Diaz Academy | Lodi (NDA Jiu Jitsu)

 

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Thank you.