Sydney drinks brand Hopr has raised $3 million in a Seed funding round, after local venture capital firms said no.
Instead of crowdfunding, founder Jose Ramirez worked with boutique advisory firm TWIYO to bring in investors. Hopr’s backers include New Zealand executive John Bromley, former Matildas player Sue Read, and ex-Morgans broker Chris Titley.
Ramirez started Hopr in 2020 because he was worried about his own drinking habits during the Covid lockdowns.
“I’ve had family and friends pass away from alcohol-related issues and I freaked out in that moment. I wondered if I had a problem,” he said.
Ramirez spent months working at night in his kitchen, experimenting with different blends of hops, adaptogens, and nootropics to perfect the recipe. Hopr isn’t beer—it’s sparkling hops-infused water, with the tang of an IPA and hints of citrus.
Hopr has grown more than 10 times in the past two years and is now available in grocery stores and bottle shops across Australia. Ramirez recently moved to a new facility nearly three times the size of the previous warehouse—marking the sixth move in just two years.
Raising money for a consumer product in Australia is “nearly impossible,” Ramirez said. Because of this, he turned to his customers to help support the brand.
“The VC scene here is built for software, fintech, AI – not fizzy drinks. Investors want ‘high margins, low ops’. But building a beverage brand means logistics, manufacturing, distribution…real product stuff.
“We sent decks everywhere. Most said ‘too early, too operational, not scalable enough’. Others liked the brand but still didn’t invest in drinks. The turning point was our community.
“This isn’t just about money. It’s proof that if you believe in what you’re building, momentum will follow. For every founder making something tangible: keep going. Even if they all say no.”
Cornerstone investor John Bromley, an experienced FMCG executive, said Hopr’s revenue growth has surpassed his expectations and that supporting Ramirez has been very exciting.
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