By: Bryan Laughery
Every veteran-owned business brings a list of expected traits to the table, notably because American veterans are taught and trained vigorously in many practical physical skills, but also because of their level of discipline in their service. From boot camp and basic training to finally serving and ascending ranks, US military personnel complete their daily tasks consistently and without fail. Donovan Stewart started his own veteran-owned business with his family and his fellow service members Johnathan Nokes and Fernando Villa, and he went beyond discipline and training. For his company, the Ghydion Gallon, Donovan brings adaptability to sell a vital hydration solution—a smart water bottle—in this country while helping other populations abroad.
Donovan found a reason to hop into the hydration industry after facing the effects of heat exhaustion in Qatar while serving in the Air Force. Being overseas, he learned a lot about adaptability just from the different ecological environments he saw. In the US, we face dehydration, but not from harsh desert climates. Donovan wanted to make a product that would benefit both all of us at home and the people who need water abroad. The company started with the idea of improving lives, and when their fundraising campaign started getting attention, they formed a charitable partnership with a nonprofit, Charity: Water. Charity: Water takes fresh, drinkable water to countries in water crises and posts coordinates and details to hold their organization accountable to using every cent they make for the cause. Ghydion donates 10% of every gallon sold to Charity: Water because you can’t tackle dehydration if you only seek profit.
In the US, it is estimated that most of the population suffers from chronic dehydration, and this statistic manifests in different ways. On the one hand, you have outdoor workers like the amazing farmers who bring food to our tables and may be missing a couple of water breaks a day. Their hands get stiff over time with the work, and they lose a lot of water to sweat. Maybe by the end of the day, they feel a bit fuzzy or confused. You also have the office hustlers who think their morning coffee replaces a water bottle. Even before the modern coffee business model, which can often have enough sugar to tiptoe the line of coffee and coffee-flavored milkshakes, coffee is not a hydrator. These workers have pounding headaches and feel weak when they come home. Additionally, you have children who either don’t carry a water bottle at school or are not filling it regularly enough to keep up with hydration. All of these people would benefit from a Ghydion Gallon, the next step in the hydration industry.
Better hydrated individuals have improved energy, alertness, focus, and recovery, as well as enhanced organ function, such as healthier skin and better digestion. They recover quickly and more fully from injuries and work, and their bodies are far more regulated. The Ghydion Gallon gamifies hydration, making it something enjoyable and unforgettable throughout the day. It’s an adaptable, smart bottle that addresses the wants and needs of its customers.
Psychologically, Donovan and his team believe that lasting behavioral change can come from a tweak in your relationship between external factors and intrinsic motivation. Your intrinsic motivation doesn’t exist alone, isolated from the outside world, so the Ghydion Gallon’s water intake calculator and its reminders are an immediate change that can keep you on track with hydration. The bottle also has a paired app where you can set your goals, set up hydration reminders, get in the community with others working for the same health benefits, and even plan workouts.
The design is based entirely off of peer-reviewed studies for the most scientifically sound water bottle on the market. The team wants to produce widespread, lasting behavioral changes, and they’ve even adapted the product to customer requests as a prototype comes along. They now offer multiple models, like the slim hiking model, for all sorts of occasions. This water bottle is suitable for the gym, the trail, the office, and at home! Even for the clumsiest people, the bottle is sturdy and strong enough to take a beating, with a stainless steel frame and vacuum seal dual lid.
This bottle already offers much more than the moldy plastic one in your cabinet, but it still has more features. With internal and external charging, you can keep the display going and charge your phone while you’re on the exercise bike. The sleeve it comes in has enough pockets to hold more than your pants, and it comes in a ton of fresh designs. The Ghydion Gallon has an easily cleaned shutter pod that keeps supplements and flavoring dry until you want to seamlessly integrate them into your drink. With these features, the bottle is practically a workout partner.
For his adaptability, Donovan won season 12 of the competitive entrepreneurial reality show The Blox. He competed against 80 other entrepreneurs to win “best startup on The Blox.” His fundraising campaign to kickstart the product exceeded its $5,000 goal by $20,000 because hundreds of orders will be filled in week one of its launch. To join the movement, learn more about the product’s intake calculator and partner charity, or just peek at the most adaptable hydration product.
Published by: Martin De Juan
