We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dylan Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dylan below.

Dylan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for LYX was born from my early work in military working dog technology, where I led research on innovations to support the dogs serving alongside our forces. While in that community, I encountered intriguing research: military dog handlers were developing ways to keep these high-performing dogs hydrated on mission, where they faced a unique problem – these dogs love their work so much that “break time” for water didn’t entice them. Their focus on the mission was their reward, and this meant they weren’t staying hydrated, a crucial issue considering the physical demands they face and their value – on average, each military dog saves over 400 lives during their career.

I started thinking: if these elite dogs were having issues with hydration, was this a challenge other dogs might face too? I began experimenting with my dog, Miller, who, like many dogs, would often come home from a walk and lie panting on the cool tile but still ignore his water bowl. Using insights from the military’s research, I formulated a mix to entice him – and he licked his bowl clean, finally engaged with drinking water. This was a major “aha” moment; it showed me the huge gap in pet hydration solutions.

With excitement, I created a small batch of my hydration formula in 12oz cans and took it to summer farmers markets in 2023. The response was overwhelming. Pet parents shared their own struggles with their dogs’ hydration, whether it was dogs needing to go to the vet for IV fluids due to dehydration, dogs feeling stressed when traveling or boarding, or dogs competing in agility and sports. Even online, I began to see significant demand across states. Realizing the shipping costs of a liquid product would limit our reach, I reworked the formula into a convenient powdered pack, similar to human hydration products, like Liquid IV. Now, we’re launching LYX as an accessible and essential hydration solution for all dogs, ready to keep them refreshed and supported – just like we do with our own best friends.

Dylan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After high school, I joined the Air Force as a carpenter with the Civil Engineer unit. This job taught me to be a problem-solver, connecting directly with clients to understand their needs and find practical solutions. After the military, I attended Texas Christian University’s Business School, where I studied entrepreneurship and innovation. Here, I discovered that the core of entrepreneurship was just like my military experience: solving problems through deep customer understanding.

While still in college, I launched my first start-up, learning how to commercialize defense technology. I worked with technology developed for military triage and adapted it to help military working dogs. This hands-on experience with defense contracts and direct work with military dog units taught me valuable skills in human-centered design, market analysis, and capital raising. My journey exposed me to innovative research on military dogs and inspired me to explore how these specialized technologies could address wider commercial needs.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My first start-up, focused on military dog technology, didn’t end in the success I envisioned; instead, I faced an impasse, ran out of capital, and ultimately had to shut down the business. Despite winning defense contracts, securing venture funding, and completing high-tech accelerators, I still felt defeated. Closing that business left me feeling uncertain about starting over, especially alone, as I launched LYX. People wondered why I’d risk it again, but I knew resilience is key to entrepreneurship.

With LYX, I spent a year doing customer discovery—pitching in the blistering Texas heat and freezing winter winds, learning through every mistake. One weekend, right after my daughter was born, I was selling the last of my inventory, torn between reordering or seeking stability for my family. That day, an investor came along who believed in my vision for LYX. This journey taught me that resilience is about showing up, staying the course, and believing in the possibility on the other side of struggle.

Have you ever had to pivot?

After a year of selling LYX as a 12oz canned drink called Animal Water, I found myself stuck in a cycle of breaking even due to steep shipping costs. Despite getting traction, it became clear that reinvesting in growth would be challenging without a change. While my wife was using Liquid IV, I had an aha moment: a powdered hydration pack could be a game-changer. It would offer customers better portability, longer shelf life, and cut down on shipping costs. I spent the summer of 2024 overhauling the supply chain, rebranding the company, and creating this new version, set for launch in early 2025.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lyxhydration.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyxhydration/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lyxhydration/