From Health Crisis to Beverage Founder: The Story Behind O’Kra Sparkling Water with Anna Cobb

Written By Keri Henderson

Anna Cobb almost lost her life to a synthetic energy supplement. That experience made her to rethink what she was consuming and ultimately led to her creating the first okra sparkling water on the market.

In this episode, Anna shares the story behind building O’kra, the wellness beverage brand that went from an idea to being on the shelves at 11 Erewhon luxury grocery stores in California and a nationwide launch in Sprouts in May 2026. We talk about navigating the beverage industry, pivoting until you find product-market fit, and why okra — a vegetable deeply rooted in Black history — is the foundation of her brand.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Pivoting without quitting and the importance of isolation before launching

  • Why okra has deeps roots in Black history and the benefits often overlooked

  • What beverage founders can learn from brands like Poppi and Olipop

  • How a viral LinkedIn post helped generate early momentum

  • The strategy behind securing retail partnerships and scaling a CPG brand

Special Offer: Receive $10 off your O’kra purchase: https://loox.io/z/pjgYoi6Cf

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