LÉOA
Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University
Industry: CPG, (Wellness Energy Drink)
Founding Student Name(s): Ari Martin and Gavin Brunsman
Brief Description of Solution: Our product, Gold Vitality, combines cutting-edge science with familiar flavors to offer a one-of-a-kind functional beverage. We have redesigned energy drinks to fit new-age health and productivity trends, optimizing the functional advantages of Lion’s Mane, Citicoline, L-Theanine with thoughtful ingredient choices, and curated caffeine content. Gold Vitality is a disruptive product that differentiates itself within a tired and saturated market of unhealthy and unsustainable options.
Funding Dollars: $25,000
What led you to launch this venture? This venture has allowed us to exercise our creativity as beverage experts, while addressing a gap in a dominant industry and growing as students in the business field. Our initial breakthrough was discovering and strengthening our home recipe for a unique tea drink. This initial flavor profile, and its strong reception, led us to analyze the beverage space and pivot our product into the most innovative energy drink on the market. Over time, we began to realize the value of hands-on experience in our growth as students and future leaders, while harnessing our excitement to make a difference in the world.
What has been your biggest accomplishment so far with venture? Pitching our business in front of the Board of Regents and the President of Santa Clara University: Julie Sullivan. This experience offered us a space to reflect on our growth and the University’s support on our journey, and express gratitude while catching the attention/further support of Santa Clara as we scale upwards.
How has your business-related major helped you further this startup venture? The most notable impact of my business major so far has been the network of people I’ve built through it. Being surrounded by ambitious, like-minded students has helped LÉOA grow faster than we ever expected. Conversations with peers, professors, and mentors have constantly pointed us toward new ideas and opportunities: from getting involved in the Bronco Venture Accelerator to connecting with alumni and other founders who’ve shared advice and perspective along the way. The Leavey community has played a huge role in our progress, providing support and resources throughout our entire journey.
Which business class has been most valuable in building your startup and what was the biggest lesson you gained from it? Last year, I took Business Ethics (PHIL 26) with Dr. Steele, which reshaped how I think about work and entrepreneurship. We talked a lot about the meaning and value of work, and it made me realize how important intentionality is in what you build. Starting a business isn’t just about creating value for others. It’s also about taking ownership over your own work and the kind of impact you want to have. That mindset has shaped how I approach LÉOA, reminding me that building something from the ground up is one of the most direct ways to create purpose through action.
What business professor made a significant contribution to your plans and why? Professor Charles Byers has made a huge contribution to our startup’s growth and direction. He selected LÉOA out of the BVA Cohort to partner with his Marketing 186 class, giving us the opportunity to work with a team of his students on our brand strategy, positioning, and audience insights. This experience has not only sharpened our understanding of how to communicate LÉOA’s value, but has also given us a constructive outside perspective on our business strategy.
What founder or entrepreneur inspired you to start your own entrepreneurial journey? How did he or she prove motivational to you? My biggest inspiration has been my mom. She’s been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember, running her own event planning business and showing me firsthand what it takes to build something from the ground up. Growing up around that gave me a behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to run a business: The long hours, problem-solving, and pride that comes with making things happen. She’s always gone out of her way to teach me about her work and support my own ideas. Last year, I began my entrepreneurial journey with my first business, a pressure washing company. My mom encouraged me every step of the way, and with LÉOA, she’s just as supportive. Through her example, I’m reminded of the values she’s lived by: hard work, ownership, and putting your all into what you care about.
What is your long-term goal with your startup? Our long-term goal is to grow our platform to share our product with as many people as possible. We purposefully designed Gold Vitality to optimally contribute to the productivity and success of its drinkers. Our passion is offering a sustainable foundation for the daily routines and goals of millions of consumers, who deserve to accomplish what’s meaningful to them.
How has your local startup ecosystem contributed to your venture’s development and success? The Santa Clara startup community has been huge for us. The Ciocca Center and Bronco Venture Accelerator gave us mentorship, funding, and guidance that helped turn our idea into a real business. We’ve met amazing people through those programs who’ve supported us, shared advice, and opened doors we wouldn’t have found on our own.
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