Soma
TypePrivate
IndustryWater filtration
Founded2012
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California
ProductsWater filters
Websitewww.drinksoma.com

Soma is a company that designs eco-friendly water filtration systems.[1][2] It was founded by Mike Del Ponte, Ido Leffler, Rohan Oza, and Zach Allia in 2012.[3][4]

History

Del Ponte received inspiration for Soma while hosting a dinner party.[2] He was too embarrassed to display his plastic water filter on the table. To compound his embarassment, when he attempted to decant the water into a glass carafe, the lid flew off the pitcher, spilling water onto the floor.[2] While cleaning up the mess, aided by a dinner guest, Ido Leffler (the founder of Yes To, Inc), they hit on the idea to create a water filter that is well-designed, functional, eco-friendly, and that could be delivered via subscription.[2][5]

The new company, Soma, launched a Kickstarter campaign in December 2012.[6] Within the first nine days they had raised over $100,000, which rose to $147,000 by the end of the campaign.[6]

In July 2013, Soma announced a $3.7 million seed round of funding, from investors that included Baseline Ventures, Forerunner Ventures, Lerer Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Cowboy Ventures, Vast Ventures, Mindful Investors, and Tim Ferriss.[7] Soma opened ordering to the public on September 16, 2013.[8]

In November 2017, Soma was acquired by Full Circle Home, a home goods and cleaning supply company.[9][10]

An image of the Soma carafe

Description

The Soma water filtration system consists of a glass carafe and a biodegradable water filter.[2] The carafe is contoured to fit hands and has a beveled edge to prevent spilling.[3][11] The filters are made from Malaysian coconut shells, vegan silk, and food-based PLA plastic, and are delivered to customers via a subscription service every two months.[2][11] The filter was designed by David Beeman, who created the water formulas for Starbucks and Peet's Coffee.[11] Soma has also partnered with charity: water to donate clean drinking water to those in need through the sale of every filter.[12]

Reception

The New York Times called Soma a "welcome change to the status quo" and Inc. Magazine named Soma one of the "most audacious companies of 2013."[1][2][13]

References

  1. 1 2 Viladas, Pilar. The Daily Gift: Soma Water Filter. The New York Times. November 10, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fenzi, Francesca Louise. Purer Than Pur, More Elegant Than Brita. Inc. Magazine. April 18, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Schwartz, Ariel. Forget Brita: Building A Better Water Filter. Fast Company.
  4. ↑ Ferriss, Tim. Hacking Kickstarter: How to Raise $100,000 in 10 Days. Four Hour Workweek.
  5. ↑ Hickman, Matt. Bye bye, Brita: Sleek Soma water filter takes Kickstarter by storm. Mother Nature Network. December 14, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Soma: Beautifully innovative all-natural water filters. Kickstarter.
  7. ↑ Brooke, Eliza. Charitable Water Filter Maker Soma Raises $3.7M Seed Round. TechCrunch. July 16, 2013.
  8. ↑ Schwartz, Ariel. Buy This Gorgeous Better-Than-Brita Water Filter That Began On Kickstarter. Fast Company. September 16, 2013.
  9. ↑ Steele, Lauren (2019-08-27). "6 everyday products that redefine eco-friendly design". Fast Company. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  10. ↑ Home, Full Circle. "Full Circle Home Acquires Soma Combining Sustainability And Style". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  11. 1 2 3 Product Spotlight: Soma Water. Dwell Magazine.
  12. ↑ WATCH: Clean Drinking Water for All. The Huffington Post. September 16, 2013.
  13. ↑ Clendaniel, Morgan. The Top 14 Design Stories Of 2012. Fast Company.
  • Soma Official Website
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.