Boba POPS

In 2020, bubble tea was a hot food trend. The Taiwanese drink featured tea blended with milk, fruit, and flavorings, and typically featured chewy tapioca pearls to give the beverage a bubbly appearance.

Today, the trend has evolved into something much bigger. According to Future Market Insights, the global bubble-tea market could triple in size over the next decade, reaching roughly $10 billion by 2035. A big driver behind this growth is the popping boba — the flavored pearls that burst when bitten into.

This trend is what a startup called Boba POPS is targeting. Only this company is doing something unique.

Instead of focusing on traditional bubble tea, Boba POPS has carved out a niche in the alcoholic-beverage industry. The company has created the first and only alcohol-filled popping boba on the market — protected by patents that are active for the next ten years.

These boba pearls are designed for cocktails, hard seltzers, and other adult beverages. The idea is simple: drop the pearls into a drink and they add flavor and texture while creating a fun, social-media-friendly experience.

Boba POPS is led by an experienced, accomplished team. President Mark Andrews founded and ran a successful energy company that he took public and sold for $350 million. He then founded Castle Brands, a spirits company, which he sold for $300 million. Boba’s Chief Marketing Officer spent a decade with Castle Brands and then founded a successful advisory firm in the alcoholic-beverage space.

Boba’s products are already in bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and grocery stores nationwide. This includes more than 10,000 retail locations like Total Wine and Publix. In 2025, the company generated close to three million dollars in revenue.

The company’s products work through a process called spherification. Each small pearl contains flavored alcohol inside a thin outer shell. When consumed, the pearl bursts with liquid flavor. The pearls can be added to cocktails, sparkling beverages, or other drinks to create what management hopes is a more engaging drinking experience.

Boba POPS primarily makes money by selling products wholesale to bars, restaurants, retailers, and distributors. The company also generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales and branded partnerships.

Boba projects to reach twelve million dollars in revenue in 2027.

Team Background

Mark Andrews - President

In addition to his role with Boba POPS, Mark is Chairman of Savvy Drinks, a consulting business helping companies in the alcoholic-beverage industry.

Previously, he was Chairman of the Board with Castle Brands, a beverage-manufacturing company, that he sold for $300 million. Before that, he was Chairman and CEO of American Exploration Company, an energy company that he took public and sold for $350 million.

Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and an MBA from Harvard.

Roseann Sessa - Chief Marketing Officer

For seventeen years, Roseann has been President of Savvy Drinks, the alcoholic-beverage consulting business led by Mark Andrews. Additionally, she spent twelve years in product development and production with Fishbowl Spirits, an alcoholic-beverage brand owned by country-music superstar Kenny Chesney.

Earlier in her career, Roseann spent a decade in marketing and public relations with Castle Brands, the beverage-manufacturing business.

Raymond Rozycki - Chief Executive Officer

Ray has more than thirty years of experience as an educator and entrepreneur.

Before starting Boba POPS, he spent twenty-nine years in the education space, serving as an advisor with Education Elements and Senior Vice President with EdisonLearning, two ed-tech companies.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.

Co-Investors