We were thrilled to continue our Speaker Series for Middle & High School Students, designed to expose students to professionals from a variety of fields.
On Wednesday, January 8, we welcomed Chris Hunter, a Centner Academy dad, for a powerful and insightful talk titled:
🗣 Building & Scaling Pioneering Brands: Lessons in Entrepreneurship
About Chris Hunter
Chris Hunter is a visionary entrepreneur known for creating, investing in, and scaling some of the most recognizable brands in the beverage industry. He is the co-founder of Four Loko and Not Your Father’s Root Beer, two iconic alcohol brands that disrupted their categories. Currently, Chris serves as the CEO and co-founder of Koia, a leading plant-based nutrition company that has grown into the #1 refrigerated plant-based protein brand in the U.S.
During his talk, Chris shared the incredible journey of building and scaling successful brands. He discussed how Koia expanded into over 35,000 retail locations nationwide, including Whole Foods, Starbucks, Kroger, 7-Eleven, and more. He also explained his vision for growing Koia into the leading plant-based nutritional platform, highlighting the importance of innovation, perseverance, and market positioning.
Beyond Koia, Chris founded Perspective Projects, his private equity firm, which has invested in brands such as Ghost, Factor, Wilde, and Vive Organics. He provided students with valuable insights into entrepreneurial thinking, risk-taking, and strategic investments.
Chris, who grew up in Northeast Ohio and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Marketing from Ohio State University, currently resides in Miami with his wife and three young sons.
Our students walked away with inspiring lessons on brand-building, innovation, and scaling businesses. Chris emphasized the power of identifying opportunities, creating products that resonate with consumers, and staying resilient in the face of challenges.
We are grateful to Chris for sharing his entrepreneurial journey and inspiring the next generation of leaders at Centner Academy!
