Almaworks Fall 2016: Introducing ZED — A Modern Wonder Drink

ZED is more than just your average energy drink. ZED is a drink that, once consumed, will eliminate the negative side effects from a hangover. Founders of ZED, James and Claire discussed the origins of their product. James explained that his native roots helped inspire the idea, as multiple industries from Korea and Japan have managed to make a hangover cure.

“I’m Korean and I grew up in Korea, so I knew they had this product. So when I was in Singapore and I had a hangover, I didn’t have this product, and I realized the US doesn’t have it.”

Using his intuition, James decided to bring the product back over to the US. James likened the process to the rise of other products.

“Like Red Bull is actually from Thailand. It was made for Thai truck drivers, but then a European guy came in, saw this thing and said, ‘Wow this is great. This beverage gives you energy.’ And he brought it to his own country and rebranded it. That’s kind of what we’re doing, except we’re making our own formula with the help of NYU professors in biology and nutrition.”

Although the product is primarily for alcohol hangovers, Claire explained that ZED doesn’t only just work on hangovers. It can help boost the immune system when someone becomes sick.

The tagline of the product is supposed to be “ZED before Bed” James further explained that:

“Z is like the letter of the alphabet, so it’s like the last thing you do before you go to bed.”

However, he stressed that you can drink the product at any time, even before alcohol consumption. As long as ZED is consumed within an hour window, it is expected to work. James and Claire have already conducted hundreds of trials and served ZED during NYU’s MBA Beer Blast. However, in order to take the company into its next steps, they need funding of around $10,000 in order to produce ZED in a factory setting. James explains that:

“Right now, we’re producing it at home to give to our friends and family. But we can’t actually sell it at delis unless we make it in factories”

Nevertheless, ZED displays a unique product and seems to be a company that is not only interesting, but progressing in the right direction.