InvestBev Names Shake Up Cocktails Pitch Day Winner
Emerging RTD brand earns $100K investment to fuel next stage of growth
InvestBev, a private equity firm focused on the adult beverage industry and CPG, announced the winner of its Pitch Day competition, the culminating event of the InvestBev Accelerator Fall 2025 cohort.
Shake Up Cocktails, maker of all-natural, gluten-free ready-to-drink cocktails, has been named the winner of the InvestBev Accelerator Fall 2025 Pitch Day competition. The brand will receive $100,000 in capital and strategic services from InvestBev and its portfolio partners to help accelerate its next stage of growth.
Co-Founded by Jamie and Dan Fahrner, Shake Up Cocktails delivers ingredients and flavor with a lineup of premium, craft-inspired canned cocktails designed for health-conscious yet experience-driven consumer.
"It feels surreal to share that Shake Up Cocktails was chosen as the pitch contest winner at the InvestBev Accelerator program," said Dan Fahrner. "We joined the cohort to pressure test our message, go-to-market strategy, investment pitch, and market fit through about eight weeks of intense workshops. It was intense. I actually nearly fainted when they announced our name!"
The Pitch Day competition, held at InvestBev's Chicago headquarters on Nov. 6, marked the culmination of InvestBev's three-month Accelerator program – a selective initiative designed to help emerging beverage brands refine strategy, secure capital and connect with industry investors.
The Fall 2025 InvestBev Accelerator cohort featured a diverse mix of early-stage beverage brands across spirits, non-alcoholic, and functional drink categories, including:
3708 American Agave, Banter Rum, Birdy, Celosa Rosé Tequila, Distillery 291, Easy Times, Ensueño Tequila, Moor's Brewing Company, hightail, Lia Rae Chanel Wines, Snazzy Beverages, Sullivan's Brewing Company, The Original Southside, Thistlerock Mead, Turkish Coffee Lady, and Alcoholdelivery.com.
Each participating brand completed an immersive series of workshops, mentorship sessions and investor-readiness exercises led by beverage industry experts.
"Founders don't need more high-level theory, they need actionable plans, distributor introductions, and investor readiness support," said Gustavo Aguirre, VP of brand acceleration at InvestBev. "That's what this program delivers. We help brands take the next step with practical tools and real investor access."
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