“ADAPT Pivots From CBD, Charts Future In Functional Powders” By Bevnet — Lukas Southard

“ADAPT Pivots From CBD, Charts Future In Functional Electrolyte Powders”

By BevNET — Lukas Southard | Apr. 29, 2026

ADAPT SuperWater has had numerous iterations since its founding in 2019. But founder and CEO Richard Harrington hopes the brand’s relaunch this month — going all in on powdered hydration sticks and ditching CBD — is its “final evolution.”

The Austin, Tex.-based business initially launched as a ready-to-drink, CBD-infused sports drink, earning differentiation as the first CBD drink to be NSF Certified for Sport, Harrington said. But Adapt struggled to market the product due to the Food and Drug Administration’s slow process of setting up a regulatory framework for CBD food and beverage products.

As a result, ADAPT began testing CBD-free powders alongside its flagship line, eventually discontinuing its RTDs to focus on hydration sticks. Now, the brand is fully resetting itself and positioning itself as a clean-label, hydrating recovery and sleep aid products.

“At a certain point, you’re just fighting an uphill battle,” he said.

Starting with a new brand identity, the relaunch includes three SKUs of recovery hydration powders (Pomegranate + Hibiscus, Mango and Watermelon + Lime) and a melatonin-free sleep powder, Tart Cherry + Kiwi.

Adapt has maintained its NSF certification and uses the same base of evaporated coconut water powder, with the hydration products using a simplified functionality message centered around L-theanine, B vitamins and magnesium. The sleep product has a double dose of magnesium (150 mg) and GABA added for their relaxing properties.

The brand foundation has always been about providing non-addictive recovery products for athletes. As a former collegiate football player, Harrington suffered a series of injuries and surgeries that ended his athletic career. Not wanting to resort to opioids or other potentially addictive pharmaceuticals for recovery, he began using CBD.

While Adapt has moved on from the cannabinoid, it is still seeking to bring recovery products to athletes.

Harrington is most excited about Adapt’s sleep product, which he feels is an underdeveloped segment.

“It’s been proven that sleep is the number one recovery tool for athletes,” he said. “A lot of athletes play games late at night, and the hardest thing is they have this crazy adrenaline rush and high, but it can be hard to come down after that.”

As the brand reintroduces itself to consumers, it has refreshed its brand identity. Even though Harrington has moved operations and the brand’s headquarters from Southern California to Austin, Adapt is emphasizing its connection to beach culture.

Football and baseball players still make up a base of Adapt’s ambassadors, but Harrington (whose family has owned the Maui and Sons surf brand for over 40 years) wanted the new look to speak to the beach volleyball players and coastal vibes that he grew up around.

With redesigned branding, Adapt is investing in its digital marketing, prioritizing Meta ads and email marketing to drive sales growth in direct-to-consumer subscriptions and its Amazon store.

The company is also using its new Austin home base to build partnerships with the active CPG community there. It has partnered with Good Grief, a local run club for people who have lost a loved one (Harrington’s father passed away last year).

Adapt raised $450,000 when it launched seven years ago. Since then, Harrington has primarily self-funded the business, but is currently raising about $500,000 to support the 100,000-stick pilot launch.

He hopes to raise an additional $1.2 million to $1.5 million in new seed round funding, with the financing going toward hiring a marketing and sales team.

“My dad always said: ‘You either have to be in business for 20 years or spend $20 million to be a name that people recognize,’” Harrington said. “We’re not on either one of those paths yet but I’m all in on this business and I always have been.”