Skip to resource content
Founder conversationBuilder <$5m

How Tejas Tonic Built a $1M Hemp Drink Brand and Took a $150K Deal

Aaron Owens explains how his Texas THC and CBD drink company survived a state ban threat and a federal shutdown scare, and what he would do with a $150K production-run loan.

Aaron Owens · Tejas Tonic

Published August 19, 2026
Watch the full conversation
About this resource

Explore the lesson. Sign in to access the resource library.

What you’ll learn

Aaron Owens, founder of Tejas Tonic and Tejas Hemp, explains how he built a Texas THC and CBD drink brand to about $1M in revenue. He lost 57.5% of third party distribution when Texas moved to ban THC and rebuilt through direct to consumer sales. Nathan Latka then offers a $150,000 loan, repaid with $180,000 over nine months, to fund a production run.

Read the source passages

Key moments

Find the ideas you need and go straight to the source.

Turning a $16K loan into cattle

“Ten days later, I sold the 16 cows for a thousand dollars a head. I had paid $7.50.”
Watch at 04:22

Distributor and retailer margin cuts

“Every market's different. Austin, Texas wants 45% at retail, which is crazy, right?”
Watch at 06:38

Distribution lost to ban threat

“we lost 57 and a half percent of our third party distribution, which at the time was over 50% of our revenue.”
Watch at 08:42

Synthetic THC price pressure

“you could buy a can this tall with fifty milligrams for $7.99”
Watch at 12:07

The $150K for $180K offer

“So if I offered you $150,000 and asked me to pay back $180,000 so I'm making 30 k and you pay that back in eight months, is that a deal that would work for you?”
Watch at 17:05

Resource files

About the speaker

Aaron Owens

Founder · Tejas Tonic

Company revenue
$1M

More founder interviews