Founder Friday is a content series from SuperAngel.Fund highlighting companies in our portfolio and the inspiring founders behind them.
In our 13th edition, we are featuring Ruchi Desai, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of EIGHT, a new iconic American beer brand founded by NFL Hall of Fame legend, Troy Aikman, centered on its low calorie, low carb, and lower alcohol approach.
EIGHT’s mission is to encourage the pursuit of greatness, raising a glass to special moments along the way. Having launched publicly this past February, EIGHT Elite Light Lager is a fresh new player in the beer category with 90 calories, 2.6g carbs, organic ingredients, no sugar, easy drinkability and a modern hoppy flavor.
After their massively successful roll-out with launch events in bars and restaurants across Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, EIGHT cans are now available in hundreds of retail locations across the entire state of Texas.
The business was conceived by serial entrepreneur and co-founder Jake Duneier, and is led by Ruchi and Co-CEO Doug Campbell (a former Diageo veteran), with the brand and beverage developed by a veritable list of all stars. This includes their Hall of Fame co-founder Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys QB, and an award winning team of brewmasters that hail from industry stalwarts like Anheuser-Busch, Harpoon Brewery, and Brewery Ommegang.
Bringing the industry into the next generation of consumption trends, EIGHT will also be leveraging direct-to-consumer principles and influencer-driven strategies to build awareness, purchase intent, and adoption across key market demographics.
Proudly based in Austin, TX, with a mission that goes beyond the bar, EIGHT is committed to giving back 1% of all revenue to Texas-based causes that work tirelessly to make healthy living accessible to all. So, drink up!
Describe your company in 5 words or less.
Ruchi: Lifestyle brand for ambitious early-risers.
What was your primary motivation for starting your business?
Ruchi: To create a tangible, culturally relevant product, purposefully crafted for our core demographic.
What piece of advice would you give an entrepreneur starting a business today?
Ruchi: Leave your ego at the door. Good ideas can come from anywhere and you’ll never know everything. Keeping an open mind and always being willing to listen is crucial.
What do you love to do in your free time?
Ruchi: I’m an avid triathlete, so I love to bike, run, and swim any chance I get. I also enjoy spending time with pup, Rhubarb, and fiancé, Dan.
What is the most interesting place you’ve visited recently and why?
Ruchi: Cadillac Ranch. It’s a great art installation centered in an open field in Amarillo, Texas that began as a commentary on art, commerce, and materialism, but has since been covered over with an ever-evolving array of graffiti - both amateur and professional.
What is your favorite app or tool in your work life and in your personal life?
Ruchi: Our team has come to rely on Asana, and we have not even begun to explore its full potential. Asana offers our distributed team a common platform on which to communicate around projects, align as a team, and offer visibility into each area of the business.
What do you believe is the most important skill or attribute of a successful founder?
Ruchi: An innate desire to continuously improve.
SuperAngel.Fund is an early stage fund that invests in Consumer, PropTech & Future of Work. The fund is led by Ben Zises who was the first investor and founding advisor to quip, Caraway & Arber. You can learn more and apply at SuperAngel.Fund.