Oops! We couldn’t find any results...
Problem
According to the New York Times...
"Sake is booming
in America"
Canned Seltzer and Canned Wine are accelerating at an industry busting year on year growth of 80% and 68% respectively, but only smoothsail is leveraging the east/west fusion of Sake - and they're bringing it to the fore with international sensation and Billboard top 100 artist, Jay Sean.
The alcoholic beverage market is changing. It’s not enough to release a “diet” version anymore. Savvy consumers are seeking new experiences with better-for-you credentials. The average consumer is even more brand conscious than ever before.
On top of this, Sake has a reputation for having many barriers to entry. It’s expensive, rarely available, and typically “enjoyed” neat.
What Western markets have yet to leverage is the drink’s reputation for sparing imbibers the less enjoyable elements of drinking the following day. smoothsail has been developed to be a taste forward beverage that can be enjoyed to relax or refresh.
Solution
First-of-its-kind
sparkling sake
Enjoy an evening of smoothsail
followed by a smooth sailing morning!
"Smooth sailing" refers to calm waters, free from big waves or roughness. As this relates to smoothsail the drink, we're proud to have developed a refreshing alcoholic beverage that answers the calls from our target market for "better-for-you" products.
Smoothsail fills the gap between the exploding canned seltzer market and hyper niche batched drinks market with a readily available, super clean, super tasty alternative.
After 20 trials, smoothsail food and beverage scientists developed a truly first of its kind, delicious-tasting drink, which leverages the unique and little-known “next morning” benefits of sake (Japanese rice wine), combined with super smooth finishes.
Product
Delivering on key
consumer preferences
It's not enough to taste great. Smoothsail goes further.
Developed over nearly 20 trials, our smoothsail beverage scientists have developed a truly first of its kind, delicious-tasting drink, which leverages the unique “next morning” benefits of sake (Japanese rice wine), combined with super smooth finishes.
Adapting a strong flavor like sake to the western palette is something smoothsail has taken very seriously. Each unique flavor is perfectly balanced to be enjoyed as a food pairing or throughout an evening of dancing and socializing. The brand builds flavors without additional sugar from the ground up so there never feels like there is anything “missing”.
Along with bold colors and subtle branding, smoothsail has shifted into a market all of its own consumer side. Providing solace for those who associate canned seltzers with college drinking parties and would sooner opt for something more sophisticated, without the alcohol content and other undesirables in wine.
smoothsail has a brand self-awareness and maturity that has led to being served in both Michelin Star restaurants and NYC clubs (And everywhere in between!). Whether it’s fine dining or partying the night away, smoothsail has solidified its place behind the bar and the feedback has been incredible. A careful but very deliberate brand image has been cultivated. It's one of pride. You can bring it with you to the beach or share at dinner parties.
Smoothsail is brewed in a leading US Sake brewery who are well provisioned to come on the journey through exponential growth with us.
Traction
Go-to-market: DTC & strategic distributor partners
Amazing pace so far with with scalable plans, rave reviews, and great partners
- In January 2022, smoothsail signed a contract brewing agreement with leading domestic producer, Colorado Sake Brewing Co
- In July 2022, smoothsail signed a distribution agreement with the Mutual Trading Company, the largest Japanese beverage distributor in the country. MTC has provisionally accepted to carry smoothsail nationally.
- In Q1 2023, smoothsail has already secured commitments and orders in more than 50 locations (bars, restaurants and liquor stores).
The Initial focus has been on DTC as well as on-premise in the Greater NYC area. The region is a natural fit given the Asian-influenced food culture, affluent demographics seeking better-for-you products, and physical proximity to Jay Sean and the team to drive volume at retail.
Customers
Gen-Z and millennials are ready for a new experience
...and smoothsail is ready to deliver it.
Contemporary, experience conscious fans are hard to win over. With smoothsail we’ve addressed some of the main concerns when it comes to the landscape change of social drinking.
Smoothsail has created something that is as classy as it is fun. The buy in from our target market in the Greater New York City area has been outstanding and we’re seeing the resonant effects across the USA through rapidly increasing D2C orders.
Business model
Impressive unit economics & exponential revenue
Exciting growth at both B2B and D2C levels.
Delivering well above industry averages through all channels. Providing a compelling case for stockists and suppliers nationwide.
With first mover advantage and a team of industry heavy hitters smoothsail has set very achievable targets. The following Year 7 target represents Just 0.1% of the expected combined Canned Seltzer and Wine Market in 2025, and could warrant a $60M-$100M valuation based on 3-5X gross revenue historical exits.*
Market
Canned seltzer
& canned wine are accelerating
Smoothsail can do more than keep up, it can define a new market all on it's own.
|
|---|
|
$2B US market |
|---|
|
Competition
Unique and distinctive
A category-creating brand
Vision and strategy
$1.2M raise to expand nationally.
First New York, then the world?
Smoothsails's roots are very much in NYC but what was intended to be proof of concept has matured ahead of projections into an incredible brand.
The team is focused on maximizing competitive advantage in eCommerce, digital marketing, and events leveraging Jay Sean.
Impact
Meet Co -Founder Jay Sean
Not another celebrity with an investment, but a true founder and committed cultural officer of the business.
Jay's groundbreaking achievements have made history. From securing Billboard #1 hits in America as the first Asian artist ever, to having simultaneous top 10 singles globally.
With over 50 million records sold and collaborations with legendary artists like Justin Timberlake and Nikki Minaj, he's an influential tour de force who is proud to be an integral part of the Smoothsail journey.
Jay Sean’s personality and work as an artist transcends cultural barriers, making him a perfect brand fit.
Jay is a legitimate co-founder, and is personally invested in creating something truly amazing. The inception of the product was Jay's requirements to create a drink that could be enjoyed in evenings without impacting his pop-star schedule the following day in the same way beer or wine would.
Jay’s passion for the brand is reflected in his social media commitment, as well as commitment to include our product at live performances.
Funding
Invest now to receive your invitation to our end of year VIP celebration!
These are incredibly exciting times for all of us at smoothsail and as an investor perk for investors of $1000 or more*, you'll be invited to our end of year celebration in New York City with all of the team, including Jay Sean himself
*150 spaces available. first come, first serve.
Leadership
A squad of heavy hitters and industry veterans
| Neel Premkumar, Company Director Neel is an EY Entrepreneur of the Year winner. Neel founded Dyla Brands, a consumer food and beverage company with products sold in over 50,000 retail stores across North America, generating more than $100 million in annual revenue. |  |
 | Brian Curran, Sales & Strategy Lead Brian brings 25 years of alcohol and beverage industry experiences to smoothsail. A former National Account Manager for Boston Beer company in the NYC market, Brian rose to senior sales roles, as a Director at Fiji Water and then VP of Sales at Wine producer and seller, Terlato Wines and VP of Sales at beer manufacturer, Uinta Brewing. |
| Sedi Doobay, General Manager Sedi brings decades of senior corporate legal andstrategy experiences to smoothsail. Sedi maintains positions as VP, General Counsel International for Integra Life Sciences. Previously he was General Counsel at Honeywell and is on the Executive Committee of the South Asian Bar Association of North America. |  |
 | Jay Sean, Co-Founder and Chief Cultural Officer Chart topping visionary with an engaged audience of ~10m (and counting!). A relatable and steadfast influencer creating cultural fusion between East and West. |
