We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Megan Riggs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Megan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
After graduating from the University of Virginia, I moved out to LA working for an online training company. Though successful in my position at work, I felt something was missing amidst this professional success and found myself facing daily anxiety and bouts of depression. After trying (and failing!) with the Western approach to medicine, I decided to head to Southeast Asia for an opportunity to unplug, destress, and experience some natural healing.
With only a backpack and one way ticket to Thailand, I discovered all things fresh, local, and crunchy. Living in the Thai Islands was simple and nourishing. I would stop by this juice and smoothie shop every day on my way to teach English. I remember calling my sister and telling her “This is what I’m supposed to do. I’m going to open a juice shop,” I had discovered my passion and decided to move back to Virginia Beach in 2017 to open a juice shop, Crunchy Carrot, as a way to continue this lifestyle and help others on their health journey.
As the juice business grew and the excitement of entrepreneur life continued, stress and anxiety became a common denominator in many business conversations, both as an expression of my own mental state and as a complaint from clients, suppliers, and business partners alike. The founding of my second beverage endeavor, Crunchy Hydration, was crafted as a response to this overwhelming need. Our mission is to improve mental and physical health through mindful hydration.
Megan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Our vision is a world in which self care is joyfully integrated into daily rituals.
Our mission is to improve mental and physical health through mindful hydration.
Core Values
Hydration for Real Life: Mindfully crafted beverages designed to enhance both mental clarity and physical well-being, with clean ingredients you can trust.
Purity and Transparency: Every can is free of artificial additives and sweeteners, made with only natural, high-quality ingredients. We’re committed to full transparency so you know exactly what you’re drinking.
Sustainability at Heart: Sourced and produced with care, ensuring that our ingredients and packaging prioritize environmental responsibility.
Convenience Without Compromise: Functional beverages that fit into even the busiest lifestyles, offering health benefits in every sip.
Education First: We believe that wellness is a journey, and we’re here to empower you with simple, practical knowledge about hydration and overall self-care.
Why Crunchy is Different
No Added Sugars, Seriously: No sugar, no stevia, no monk fruit, no sucralose, no erythritol, no allulose, no aspartame—nothing added! Just pure, clean hydration.
No Junk, Just the Good Stuff: We keep it simple—no artificial ingredients, fillers, or preservatives.
Targeted Functional Benefits: Each can is designed with a specific function in mind—whether it’s boosting mental clarity, relieving stress, providing clean energy, or helping you unwind, Crunchy has the right hydration for every moment.
Crunchy Community: We’re more than just a beverage—we’re a community inspiring connection, growth, and mindful living.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
I am based in Virginia Beach, Virginia and feel so blessed to call the 757 home. When I started my business, I was SO supported by the community. I learned about the 757 Collab and first joined the 757 Start Up Studios. I started raising capital and struggled at first. It was not easy! I had to shift my perspective on how I viewed asking others for money. I was inviting them into an incredible opportunity to join in our mission to improve mental and physical health through mindful hydration. Then I got accepted into the 757 Accelerate program and through that I was able to close my first friends and family capital raise. Find a community that is going to support you and help you through the hard times! I would not be where I am without the support of others.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
We were able to grow our social media following through strategic partnerships. We collaborated with other like minded brands in the wellness space and focused on giveaways. We grew our instagram to over 60k followers through giveaways! We also put a QR code on everything that the consumer touches so they are directed to our link tree which helps them find all things Crunchy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drinkcrunchy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkcrunchy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crunchyhydration
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drinkcrunchy
Image Credits
Wonderkind