By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — You can now invest in a fast-growing vodka company with a local ownership team that includes Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer Rick Nielsen.
Rock’n Vodka, a sweet-tasting spirit that was created in 2019, launched an investment offering at 10 a.m. Monday through StartEngine, the largest equity crowdfunding platform in the country.
The crowdfunding will help Rock’n Vodka raise capital as the company looks to continue its expansion to bars, restaurants and retailers across the country.
“It gives us the ability to keep up with our current demand and grow our brand at a faster rate,” said Andy Roiniotis, one of the owners. “We’re already growing fast as it is, but StartEngine allows people from around the world to be able to join the Rock’n Vodka team.”
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According to information on StartEngine, Rock’n Vodka has 360% year-to-date sales growth through April. It’s growth in case sales is up 1,259% from 2020 to 2021. The vodka is being sold in more than 400 retailers across the country and parts of Canada, and the company has partnered with brands such as Hard Rock, NASCAR and Arachnid dartboards.
You can buy it in local Schnucks, Target, Binny’s Beverage Depot and it has a deal with 161 Walmarts in Illinois, among other retailers. It’s also served at Rockford Casino: A Hard Rock Opening Act.
“That has catapulted us into negotiations and talks with Hard Rocks throughout the nation,” Roiniotis said. “We just had a 3,000-bottle purchase order from the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida.”
Andy and Isabelle Roiniotis started the company with their long-time business partner Dionisios Trakas and Nielsen, the legendary guitarist from Cheap Trick. The award-winning vodka is made from 100% non-GMO and gluten-free sugarcane.
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The company has already had success on StartEngine, and on Tuesday it was listed as one of the top three companies with momentum on the site. StartEngine’s strategic advisor is Kevin O’Leary, the “Shark Tank” businessman nicknamed “Mr. Wonderful.” The site allows anyone to invest in private businesses that offer shares of stock, debt, revenue share securities and more.
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Securities and Exchange Commission rules allow Rock’n Vodka, and other companies like it, to raise a maximum $5 million through Regulation CF crowdfunding in a 12-month period. It has raised nearly $117,000 in its first two days on the site with 51 investors and a price of $3 per share, according to StartEngine information. Rock’n Vodka is looking to raise a little more than $1 million, according to information on the site.
The company has been working on the investment opportunity since January 2021, Roiniotis said.
“It’s a very exciting moment for our brand,” he said. “Our goal is to raise enough capital to keep up with demand and grow our brand at the pace that it deserves.”
How to invest
You can visit Rock’n Vodka’s investor page on StartEngine by clicking HERE. The minimum investment is $300.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.