Sydney comedian turned drinks entrepreneur Merrick Watts has built a $2.5m business from a recipe Roman soldiers carried into battle more than 2,000 years ago, and this week the story landed where it belongs: in front of a national audience. Posca Hydrate, the sugar-free hydration soda Watts launched in late 2024 after two years of development through hundreds of formula iterations, has now sold 800,000 cans and is stocked in 3,000 stores across Australia, with sales up 50% in the last financial year. The company is now raising between $5m and $7m via equity crowdfunding on Onmarket to fund continued Australian growth and a targeted US market entry.
The milestone was recognised this week with features in two of Australia's most prominent mastheads. Simon Evans explored the brand's US ambitions for the Australian Financial Review, detailing Watts' plan to take a "fortress city" approach to breaking into California and Texas. Meanwhile Journalist Savannah Pocock covered the crowdfunding raise for News Corp Syndication. DL Comms is proud to have played a role in bringing the Posca Hydrate story to life at this critical stage of the brand's growth.
