Founded in Colombia, the brand is the maker of a zero-calorie, stevia-sweetened sparkling water that is flavored with ingredients such as lychee, hibiscus, watermelon and ginger. The company recently moved its headquarters office to the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University to manufacture and launch the beverage domestically.
The market for new carbonated beverages and sparkling waters is surging as consumers increasingly look to cut back on sugar, artificial additives, and empty calories without sacrificing flavor or refreshment. Prebiotic soda brands such as Olipop and Poppi have thrived as a result, with each valued at more than $1 billion. Poppi was even acquired by PepsiCo back in March.
“You have Gen Z driving demand for healthier drinks, but it’s also people in their 50s and 60s,” Inaam CEO Terry Ingram told the Business Journal. “We’re very careful about what we’re putting in our bodies. But if you go into stores like 7-Eleven to grab a drink, there’s nothing healthy there.”
Enter Inaam. The brand is already available across Colombia and Puerto Rico, including at 7-Eleven convenience stores. It used to sell on Amazon.com for U.S. consumers, but the product is currently backlogged domestically.
The company is currently working with JP Morgan to raise $17 million to grow in the U.S. That will include partnering with co-packing businesses that can manufacture its sparkling water in locations across the country, including Florida.
In some ways, the timing couldn’t be better for Inaam, Ingram said.
In January, Florida will ban the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase traditional sodas stacked with sugar and artificial flavors and colors. At least 10 other states have also received approval to ban the purchase of soda with SNAP benefits.
Inaam applied to be verified for SNAP eligibility in Florida back in September.
Some studies suggest SNAP households spend about 5% of their food budgets on soda, so many of those consumers will be looking for alternatives.
Ingram said big brands will be forced to reformulate their beverages to comply with the new rules, a costly and time-consuming process.
“They’re all going to be caught flat-footed,” he said. “But Inaam’s existing formulas already comply, because the drinks don’t have sugar or artificial flavors but still have a strong flavor profile.”
Ingram is also focused on working with schools and health care providers, such as hospitals, to replace sugary sodas and sports drinks with Inaam at those locations.
Inaam, which comes in seven flavors, was developed by founders Geronimo García and Jorge Mario Villa. Garcia, a beverage industry veteran, was initially inspired to develop a healthy soda alternative for his wife, who suffers from fibromyalgia. Many sodas and carbonated beverages with artificial ingredients would trigger the painful condition, Ingram said. Garcia turned to botanical extracts to create healthier options that could satisfy cravings for a carbonated drink.
Some of Inaam’s popular flavors include ginger soda, cranberry basil juniper, watermelon spearmint melon and lychee lime hibiscus.
Ingram said he is focused on having the product on U.S. store shelves by early 2026. The business, he said, is still looking for additional equity partners to help it scale domestically.
Until then, he aims to invest in awareness marketing to introduce consumers to the brand – and its benefits.
“We believe you can have all the joys of drinking something that tastes great and still be healthy,” Ingram said. “I think the stars are aligned for us, but we have to educate, educate, educate.”