# Andy Gay

> Andy Gay is the co-founder and chief brand officer of Tampa-based Cirkul, the customizable beverage company he conceived with Dartmouth football teammate Garrett Waggoner after a spilled scoop of sports-drink powder. Gay, a former quarterback and film and media studies graduate, worked retail and other side jobs while the pair spent roughly six years developing the cartridge-and-dial system. Cirkul launched in 2018, expanded from direct-to-consumer sales into major retail, and reached a reported $1 billion valuation in 2022.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer at Cirkul
- **Organizations:** Cirkul, Dartmouth College
- **From:** Washington State, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA, Film and Media Studies, Dartmouth College
- **Known for:** Co-created Cirkul's cartridge-and-flavor-dial beverage system., Helped take Cirkul from a college concept through roughly six years of development to a 2018 commercial launch., Led the brand alongside Cirkul's expansion from direct-to-consumer subscriptions into national retail.

## Career timeline

- **2010** — Arrived at Dartmouth College, where he played quarterback and met football teammate Garrett Waggoner.
- **2011** — Gay and Waggoner began discussing a cartridge-based drink system after sports-drink powder spilled while they studied in the football locker room.
- **2014** — Graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in Film and Media Studies; worked in retail and other side jobs while continuing Cirkul development.
- **2015-2016** — Committed to Cirkul full time and formally launched the company with Waggoner in October 2016 after extensive prototyping and product development.
- **2018** — Cirkul launched commercially after a crowdfunding campaign that sold more than $150,000 in a little over a month; the team shipped 5,000 bottles and 40,000 cartridges on launch day.
- **2022** — Cirkul expanded into Walmart stores, sold more than 1.5 million bottles there after its April debut, and announced a funding round at a reported $1 billion pre-money valuation.
- **2024** — As chief brand officer, Gay represented Cirkul in announcing its role as official hydration supplier of USA Swimming.
- **2025** — Appeared with Waggoner around Super Bowl LIX and at Advertising Week New York as Cirkul's co-founder and chief brand officer.
- **2026** — Joined Waggoner on the Pour Decisions podcast to discuss vertical manufacturing, direct-to-consumer growth, retail expansion and Cirkul's broad flavor portfolio.

## Achievements

- Co-created Cirkul's cartridge-and-flavor-dial beverage system.
- Helped take Cirkul from a college concept through roughly six years of development to a 2018 commercial launch.
- Led the brand alongside Cirkul's expansion from direct-to-consumer subscriptions into national retail.
- Helped build Cirkul into a company reported at a $1 billion valuation in 2022.
- Won a Dartmouth entrepreneurship pitch competition with the Cirkul concept.
- Helped broaden Cirkul from a flavor product into a platform spanning teas, lemonades, energy and electrolyte beverages.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Appeared with Garrett Waggoner on the Pour Decisions podcast to discuss Cirkul's 150-plus flavors, vertical manufacturing, direct-to-consumer growth and retail expansion.
- **2025-10** — Told Fox Business that young entrepreneurs should 'stick to your guns' while discussing Cirkul's path from a college idea to a billion-dollar valuation.
- **2025-10** — Appeared as a speaker at Advertising Week New York in his role as Cirkul co-founder and chief brand officer.
- **2025-02** — Represented Cirkul around Super Bowl LIX as the company aired its first Super Bowl commercial.

## Links

- Website: https://drinkcirkul.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-gray-b365b130
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DrinkCirkul
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@drinkcirkul
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/drinkcirkul
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/DrinkCirkul
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drinkcirkul

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/andy-gray
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27