Former rugby player Alan Quinlan, mixed martial arts fighter Cian Cowley and Cork GAA stars Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Brian Hurley are among a number of angel investors who have invested a combined €2 million into Mynd, a new plant-based CBD drink.
The group behind Mynd, which is led by entrepreneur Simon Allen, have spent three years developing the new drink, which has already been picked up for Irish distribution and is now available in branches of SuperValu, Centra and Costcutter.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the lesser-known compound found in the cannabis sativa plant; its more famous sibling, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, is the active ingredient in marijuana. Research studies have shown significant potential for CBD to contribute positively to both mental and physical health. The global market for CBD-derived products is currently worth $414 million, with projections that this will increase to $3.2 billion by 2026.
Mynd, whose formula has been crafted by scientists, is a wellness and recovery drink that contains zero THC, preservatives or added sugar. It provides a 25ml dose of CBD in every can, and has just 10 calories. It is vegan and gluten-free, and comes in orange and mango, lemon and ginger, and elderberry and passion fruit flavours.
Mr Quinlan, who previously played for Munster, called the new drink a “game-changer that not only tastes good but makes you feel good too”.
Recovery
“I’ve been intrigued by CBD since my time as a player, and have read a lot of the research that shows it can aid with recovery and has plenty of other benefits as well. I’ve loved playing a part in developing this, and am proud that we’ve come up with something that has few calories and is natural.
“This isn’t just for sports people. We all have those periods in the day where we feel a little sleepy or stressed, and Mynd can give you a bit of a lift and help you to focus. It also helps people to relax and can aid those that get joint pain so there are so many benefits from the drink,” said Mr Quinlan.
The sportsman said plans were afoot to launch Mynd in mainland Europe, Britain and the US shortly.
“This is an Irish-developed product and we are really excited about how far we can take this,” he said.
