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Dubai-based wellness startup Shake Your Plants (SYP) has secured AED 1.2 million in funding following a successful appearance on Shark Tank Dubai, marking a pivotal milestone in the brand’s growth journey.
Founders Lia Coelho and Justine Dampt closed a deal with Amira Sajwani, Managing Director of DAMAC Properties and Founder of Prypco, in exchange for 20% equity. The agreement also includes a AED 2 million line of credit — providing both strategic backing and operational runway.
The founders also received competing offers from Elie Khoury, Chairman of Vivium Holding, and Mona Ataya, founder of Mumzworld, reflecting strong investor confidence in the plant-powered beverage concept.
Dampt described the partnership as more than capital. “Strategic support matters just as much as funding,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of scaling responsibly while maintaining founder control.
Built From Resilience
Shake Your Plants was born during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when Dampt began experimenting with plant-based wellness powders in her kitchen. With a background as a certified nutritionist and health coach, she wanted to create a hydration drink that moved beyond traditional sugary electrolyte formulas.
The result: kombucha-based sachets designed to turn water into a functional wellness drink — supporting gut health and hydration.
But the road was far from smooth.
In 2022, just days before a major launch, the company was forced to recall 80,000 sachets due to a manufacturing-related crystallisation issue. The setback nearly derailed the business.
Instead of retreating, the founders pursued accountability. After months of investigation, the manufacturer accepted responsibility. Dampt even relocated temporarily to Germany to resolve the dispute — a make-or-break chapter that ultimately strengthened the company’s resilience.
Reimagining Hydration
The SYP philosophy is simple: use water as a vehicle for wellness.
The brand focuses on:
- No added sugars
- No artificial colours
- Plant-powered ingredients
- Kombucha fermentation
- Carefully sourced components, including UK-grown organic blueberries
Each sachet is priced below AED 8.50, positioning the product as accessible wellness rather than premium exclusivity.
Globally, hydration and functional beverage demand is rising. According to the World Health Organization, inadequate hydration and poor nutrition remain widespread public health challenges, reinforcing consumer interest in preventative wellness products.
SYP also integrates sustainability into its sourcing approach by prioritising “imperfect” fruits — reducing food waste while lowering its environmental footprint.
Community Led Growth
Rather than relying heavily on celebrity endorsements, Shake Your Plants has embraced micro-influencer marketing and community storytelling.
Transparency around challenges, ingredient sourcing and founder life has helped build authenticity — a key factor in modern brand trust.
The company currently offers three core products focused on hydration and gut health, with new formulas targeting sleep and energy in development.
Expansion plans include entry into Saudi Arabia and the UK, where consumer testing is already underway.
Female Founder Edge
Dampt and Coelho openly discuss the realities of entrepreneurship — particularly as women balancing business and motherhood.
“There’s no such thing as perfect balance,” Dampt has shared, describing the experience as full-time founder meets full-time parent. Rather than seeing it as a disadvantage, the duo views it as a driver of sharper focus and disciplined execution.
Their Shark Tank win signals more than a funding milestone — it reflects a growing appetite in the UAE for wellness-driven consumer brands with strong founder narratives.
Reason for More Water – Sustainability
As temperatures rise during the summer months, staying hydrated becomes increasingly important. The founders of SYP point to research indicating that around 94% of people experience chronic dehydration, while 92% have deficiencies in essential vitamins or minerals. They see this as an opportunity to transform hydration into a healthier and more enjoyable daily habit.
The company currently offers three products centered on hydration and gut health, all formulated with naturally sourced, high-quality ingredients. Its kombucha-based sachets combine premium components such as organic blueberries from the UK and fermented tea sourced from Taiwan.
Free from added sugars and artificial colors, the products are designed to appeal to health-conscious consumers while remaining affordable, with each sachet priced below AED 8.50. According to co-founder Lia, however, the real differentiator is flavor. She believes that regardless of a product’s health benefits, consumers will only make it part of their routine if it tastes genuinely good. While the idea may seem straightforward, delivering both nutrition and great taste is something many brands struggle to achieve.
SYP is steadily building a loyal customer base, supported by collaborations with micro-influencers who promote the products through authentic social media content. Some creators have even volunteered to endorse the brand without compensation, reflecting growing enthusiasm for its offerings. The company is also preparing to launch another product before the end of the year. Humanity has discovered that strangers on the internet can sometimes be more convincing than multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns. Peculiar, but effective.
Co-founder Coelho believes transparency is central to the brand’s long-term success. By openly sharing the realities of building the business, discussing its challenges, and providing complete visibility into the ingredients used in every product, the company aims to foster trust and cultivate a strong, engaged community.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Shake Your Plants (SYP) is a Dubai-based wellness startup that produces plant-powered hydration drinks. Its kombucha-based sachets are designed to support hydration and gut health using natural ingredients without added sugars or artificial colours.
Shake Your Plants secured AED 1.2 million in investment after appearing on Shark Tank Dubai. The agreement also included a AED 2 million line of credit, providing additional financial flexibility for the company’s growth plans.
The investment came from Amira Sajwani, Managing Director of DAMAC Properties and Founder of Prypco. She acquired a 20% equity stake in the company while also providing strategic support alongside the funding.
The startup impressed investors with its innovative approach to functional hydration, strong founder story, growing market opportunity, and commitment to natural, plant-based wellness products.
Unlike many sports or electrolyte drinks, Shake Your Plants products contain no added sugars or artificial colours. They use kombucha fermentation and carefully sourced plant-based ingredients to promote both hydration and gut health.
The company uses naturally sourced ingredients, including fermented kombucha tea and organic blueberries grown in the UK. It also prioritizes high-quality plant-based ingredients while avoiding artificial additives.
Each hydration sachet is priced at less than AED 8.50, making the products accessible to consumers seeking affordable daily wellness solutions.
Kombucha-based drinks may help support gut health through fermentation while encouraging better hydration. Combined with plant-based ingredients, they can provide a healthier alternative to sugary beverages, although individual benefits may vary.
Growing awareness of dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and preventative healthcare has increased demand for functional beverages that offer health benefits beyond simply quenching thirst.
The company reduces food waste by sourcing imperfect fruits that are still nutritionally valuable. This approach helps minimise environmental impact while making better use of agricultural produce.
In 2022, the startup voluntarily recalled around 80,000 sachets after discovering a manufacturing-related crystallisation issue. The founders worked closely with the manufacturer to resolve the problem before continuing the company’s expansion.
Instead of relying primarily on celebrity endorsements, the brand focuses on micro-influencers, authentic customer experiences, and transparent storytelling to build trust and grow its community.
The company currently offers three hydration and gut health products. It is also developing additional formulations focused on improving sleep and supporting natural energy levels.
Following its success in the UAE, Shake Your Plants plans to expand into Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, where product testing and market validation are already underway.
Consumers increasingly trust brands that openly communicate their challenges, sourcing practices, and business journey. Transparency helps build credibility, strengthen customer relationships, and encourage long-term brand loyalty.
The company’s journey demonstrates that resilience, product quality, transparency, and strategic partnerships can be just as important as securing investment. Overcoming setbacks while staying focused on long-term goals can help build a stronger and more sustainable business.
Consumers are increasingly looking for drinks that provide additional health benefits such as hydration, digestive support, improved energy, or better nutrition. This shift has accelerated demand for functional beverages made with natural ingredients.
The startup combined several qualities that investors typically value: a fast-growing wellness market, a differentiated product, resilient founders who had overcome significant challenges, and a scalable business model with international expansion potential.
Dwayne Paschke is a seasoned content strategist and AI automation specialist with over nine years of experience at the intersection of journalism and digital innovation. A versatile force in the media landscape, Dwayne has built a reputation as an expert content writer and investigative journalist, contributing high-impact pieces to various reputable news websites.
The post From Kitchen Experiment to Shark Tank Deal: “Shake Your Plants” Secures AED 1.2M Investment appeared first on Disruptors Digest.
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