[PLACEHOLDER CONTENT] When Jake Simmons started mixing protein powder and sparkling water in his North Main garage in 2023, his friends thought he was joking. Three years later, his startup FizzFuel is in 400 stores across the Southeast — and a Series A round is about to change everything.

From garage to grocery shelf

FizzFuel's pitch is simple: a carbonated, lightly sweetened drink with 20 grams of protein and none of the chalky texture of traditional shakes. The initial batches were hand-labeled and sold at the TD Saturday Market. A viral TikTok in late 2024 — featuring a Furman cross-country runner shotgunning a can after a race — changed the trajectory overnight.

"We went from 50 cans a week to 5,000 overnight," Simmons said from FizzFuel's production facility on Laurens Road. "I called my mom and said, 'I think I need to quit my day job.'"

Growing in Greenville

Unlike many startups that outgrow their hometown, Simmons is committed to keeping FizzFuel rooted in the Upstate. The company recently signed a lease on a 12,000-square-foot facility near the Innovation District, where it plans to triple production capacity by Q3 2026. The team has grown to 18 full-time employees, most of them hired locally.

What's next

A national distributor partnership — which Simmons declined to name — is expected to put FizzFuel in more than 2,000 stores by year's end. Two new flavors (Peach Upstate and Carolina Mint) launch in May. And yes, you'll still find Jake at the Saturday Market most weekends, handing out samples and talking shop.