# Hint Inc.

> Hint Inc. makes unsweetened, fruit-infused water with zero sugar, zero sweeteners, and zero calories. Founded in San Francisco in 2005 by Kara Goldin, Hint grew from a personal health experiment into the #1 unsweetened flavored still water brand in the U.S. The company sells over 25 flavors through major retailers like Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, and Costco, as well as directly through its website — where DTC now represents more than 50% of revenue. With $91M+ raised and an annual revenue of approximately $143M, Hint has quietly built one of the most compelling better-for-you beverage brands in America.

- **Founded:** 2005
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, California, USA
- **Founders:** Kara Goldin (Founder & CEO)
- **Team size:** 183-220 employees
- **Products:** Hint Water (Still), Hint Fizz / Hint Sparkling, Hint+ Vitamin Essence Water, Variety Packs & Seasonal Flavors, Subscribe & Save
- **Notable:** #1 unsweetened flavored still water brand in the United States, Hint Fizz won Better Homes and Gardens Best New Beverage of 2012, Kara Goldin named Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs (2011)

## Products & services

- **Hint Water (Still)** — Unsweetened still water infused with real fruit essence. Zero sugar, zero calories, zero sweeteners. Available in 25+ flavors including watermelon, blackberry, cherry, pineapple peach, crisp apple, coconut, and grape.
- **Hint Fizz / Hint Sparkling** — Carbonated version of Hint Water with the same fruit-essence flavor profile and nutritional benefits. Launched in 2011; won Better Homes and Gardens Best New Beverage of 2012.
- **Hint+ Vitamin Essence Water** — Flavor-infused water with added vitamins. Combines the clean-label Hint approach with functional nutrition benefits.
- **Variety Packs & Seasonal Flavors** — Curated packs including seasonal limited editions like the Star Spangled Summer Pack and Winter Variety Pack. Bundle offers and subscription boxes available on drinkhint.com.
- **Subscribe & Save** — Direct-to-consumer subscription service offering 17% discount plus free shipping on 3+ cases. DTC represents over 50% of Hint's total revenue.

## Achievements

- #1 unsweetened flavored still water brand in the United States
- Hint Fizz won Better Homes and Gardens Best New Beverage of 2012
- Kara Goldin named Fortune's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs (2011)
- Kara Goldin named Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business
- EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California
- 82% of employees rate it a great place to work (vs. 57% national average)
- Grew DTC from 40% to 50%+ of revenue since 2020
- $91M+ total funding raised across 9 rounds
- 20-year anniversary celebrated in July 2025
- Largest non-alcohol private beverage company in the U.S. (per CEO claim)
- Available in Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Publix, Safeway, and 25+ major chains
- Kara Goldin authored WSJ & Amazon bestseller 'Undaunted'

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Launched 'MMMMM Water' campaign under platform 'Water For People With Tastebuds', reframing hydration as desire not discipline. First major national marketing push since 2024, rolling out across streaming, CTV, digital video, social, podcasts, audio, influencer, OOH, experiential, and retail channels.
- **2026-05** — Introduced Star Spangled Variety Pack - summer seasonal collection inspired by frozen treats.
- **2026-03** — Hint introduced a major brand refresh across visual identity and marketing materials.
- **2025-07** — Celebrated 20-year anniversary with cash sweepstakes and nationwide rooftop movie nights.
- **2020-08** — Closed $25M Series D funding round led by Springboard Growth Capital.

## Links

- Website: https://drinkhint.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/drinkhint
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/hintwater
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/drinkhint
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hint/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hint/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/hint-inc
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-29