Former Bang CEO Jack Owoc Launches New Energy Drink, "AI Energy Drink"

After suffering a major legal defeat against Monster Energy, former Bang Energy CEO Jack Owoc was ousted from his position. Now, he is making a comeback with a new energy drink brand, "AI Energy Drink."

To be honest, I had assumed that the lawsuit with Monster Energy might have included terms preventing Jack Owoc from launching another energy drink. So, seeing him return to the energy drink scene in such a short time is quite surprising.

Bang Energy was a game-changer in the modern U.S. energy drink industry.

Following the massive success of Bang Energy, a wave of new energy drinks emerged around 2018, inspired by Bang’s popularity. This movement continues to reshape the U.S. energy drink market even today.

Now, Jack Owoc, the man who spearheaded this transformation, is back with a new energy drink. Will "AI Energy Drink" rise to become a leading brand in the industry? Only time will tell!

"AI Energy Drink" Launches in 355ml Cans with Four Flavors

AI Energy Drink will debut in four flavors: Blue Raspberry, Grape, Peach, and Watermelon, all in slim 355ml cans. A 12-pack of each flavor is priced at $36, and a variety pack featuring all four flavors will also be available. Sales are set to begin through an online store.

The energy ingredients follow the standard set by Bang in the past, now common in modern energy drinks—zero calories, zero sugar, and 200mg of caffeine. It also contains CDP Choline, Acetyl Tyrosine, Theanine, Mucuna, and Huperzine A for brain function support.

AI Energy Drink has also taken a stance against certain industry trends.

It specifically mentions avoiding "Alpha-GPC," an ingredient commonly found in fitness-focused energy drinks, due to its potential link to increased cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, it criticizes the use of "natural caffeine," claiming it contributes to rainforest destruction, and highlights its choice of a 12oz can instead of a 16oz one, reducing waste by 25%. These points set AI Energy Drink apart from many competitors.
*Brands that contain Alpha-GPC: BUCKED UP ENERGY, C4 ENERGY, GHOST ENERGY, REDCON1 ENERGY, among others. Most of these brands sell in 16oz cans.

Bang Pioneered the Modern Energy Drink Scene

The new energy drink scene, built around "fitness and a vibrant lifestyle," was largely shaped by Jack Owoc and has since grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Even brands like Monster Energy and Rockstar have followed in the footsteps of Bang and other new players.

The left half of this refrigerator is almost entirely occupied by brands that emerged after Bang took the market by storm. (Photo from Los Angeles, November 2023)

After Bang was acquired and scaled down, CELSIUS surged to become the #3 energy drink brand in the U.S. With the market now flooded with competing brands, the big question is whether AI Energy Drink can carve out its place on store shelves.

Creating a Multi-Billion-Dollar Industry with the "UFOoria" Concept

Just as Jack Owoc revolutionized the energy drink market once before, AI Energy Drink aims to create a new industry movement called "UFOoria."

"UFOoria" is a coined term combining "UFO" with "euphoria," referring to excitement and happiness. The concept might sound a bit out there, but it's an intriguing marketing angle.

As of now, AI Energy Drink has yet to launch in online stores, and its retail distribution remains uncertain. However, given Jack Owoc’s history of turning Bang into a top U.S. brand, there’s plenty of anticipation for how AI Energy Drink will be promoted.

Side Note: Monster Energy's New Release and Jack Owoc’s Miami Connection

In October 2024, Monster Energy launched "Monster Ultra Vice Guava." The name, font, and design clearly evoke a Miami aesthetic. (Personally, I love this design!)

After driving Bang out of the market through lawsuits and ultimately acquiring and restructuring it (resulting in a massive decline in Bang’s retail presence), Monster Energy coincidentally released a Miami-inspired product right as former Bang CEO Jack Owoc returned to the energy drink industry with AI Energy Drink.

Jack Owoc's movements were already known within the industry, and Monster Ultra Vice Guava’s name and design were finalized in early 2024. So, was this a deliberate nod to Owoc, or just an amusing coincidence?

Speculating about the deeper dynamics of the industry is always fun.

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