Signal trace · beverage (clear/sparkling protein)

Lumen

Every press hit, ad, BSR data point, Instagram metric, and Claude thesis the pipeline used to score Lumen. Click any signal to inspect the source.

watchmorelumen.com ↗last scored 4d ago
← Pipeline

At a glance

Founded
2018
HQ
Santa Monica, CA
Total raised
$250K
Last round
Seed + strategic (Taste Tomorrow Ventures, amount undisclosed) · Apr 2026
Founders
Yasir Hashim · Co-founder & CEO,Kris Taylor · Co-founder
Retailers
Sprouts (nationwide, 7/2026)KeHeRainforest DistributionL.A. Distributing
Instagram
—
TikTok
@@lumen

Rhymes with

David Protein (and early Poppi)

Clear/sparkling protein positioning rhymes with David's category-creation playbook, while the Sprouts-first + strategic beverage syndicate path echoes Poppi's early natural-channel scale-up.

Jeff's verdict

Your vote biases future scoring. Hot = +8. Pass = -15.

Composite score
44/100
-5 vs prior run
Score label
Research
83% confidence
Signals captured
26
7 sources live
Scoring runs
2
since 8/24/2026

Rubric breakdown

Traction & velocity
10/25
Team pedigree
10/20
Authenticity / fit
6/20
Capital signal (pre-raise)
8/15
Category timing
7/12
Defensibility
3/8
Scoring rationale
DILIGENCE — Lumen is an in-scope clear/sparkling protein beverage with real early retail traction: nationwide Sprouts launch announced 7/7/2026 with an exclusive Cocolada SKU, a 2026 UNFI Pitch Slam win (BevNET, 2/24/2026), and a fresh Taste Tomorrow Ventures check (the LA Libations-backed $30M fund, per Drew Fallon 4/21/2026) alongside Rainforest, L.A. Distributing, and KeHe distribution. Google Trends for the brand is rising (90d avg 62, peak 100) and Foreplay shows 30 live ads, suggesting a paid-media push behind the Sprouts rollout. Founders Kris Taylor and Yasir Hashim (CEO) are ex-med-school admits with a clean 'declined med school' founder narrative — worth a call before the round prices up, though the generic 'Lumen' name creates real brand-search and TM risk.
Traction: 2 press · 30 ads · BSR Δ34% · TikTok 43 → 10/25
Authenticity: IG — · TT 43 · -4 Amazon reviews · 8 subreddits → 6/20
Capital: 0 funding press (penalty 3) · TM sweet-spot no · 30 ads → 8/15 (higher = pre-raise)
Category timing: beverage (clear/sparkling protein) trend flat · brand trend rising → 7/12
Out of food+bev scope — will not surface on pipeline.

Score history

  • Aug 24, 10:11 AM44
    83% confidence · Research
  • Aug 24, 03:11 AM49
    83% confidence · Research

Signal sources

Press signal

SerpAPI · Google News · 5

Ad activity

Foreplay · 10
  • Lainly
    Your faith deserves better than jewelry that gives up after a few weeks. 🙏
    Jewelry/watchesJewelry/Watches
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 4d ago
  • DECJUBA
    DECJUBA
    Women's ClothingFashion
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 4d ago
  • Lea Clothing Co
    Lea Clothing Co
    InterestEntertainment
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 4d ago
  • Toyota Malaysia
    Toyota Malaysia
    CarsAutomotive
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 4d ago
  • Plant Parent
    Plant Parent
    App pageApp/Software
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 4d ago
  • Vlada Garmash
    Перша частина присвячена всім речам на рейлі 🙌🏼
    СМИ/информационное агентствоOther
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 5d ago
  • Water2
    Filter jugs seem convenient… until you’re constantly refilling them, waiting for water to filter, replacing cartridges and losing half your fridge space. There’s an easier way to get filtered water. The way that over 200,000 UK homes u
    Product/serviceService Business
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 5d ago
  • Calm
    🎧 Bilateral stimulation can help you regulate ❌ No matter what you've tried before, EMDR-inspired bilateral audio works differently — on your nervous system itself. 🏆 Experience Calm's Bilateral Stimulation! Trusted by millions worldwide.
    Product/serviceService Business
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 5d ago
  • Trybello
    Please STOP trying to regrow your hair. I know that sounds crazy, but I’m a board certified dermatologist and most products just make your hair loss worse!! I finally found a product that actually works for menopausal hair loss and blocks
    BrandFashion
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 5d ago
  • Christian Bischoff
    Die Manifestation Days 2026: LIVE mit Christian Bischoff Du manifestierst jeden Tag. Nur meistens das, was Du gar nicht willst. An 3 kostenfreien Live-Abenden findest Du Deine drei stärksten Glaubenssätze, formst daraus neue Überzeugungen
    Public figureEntertainment
    foreplay.ad · live_ad · 75% conf · 5d ago

Amazon traction

Keepa · Jungle Scout · 2

Instagram

Apify · 0

No instagram signals captured.

TikTok

Apify · 2
  • @lumen: 43 followers · 3 hearts · 0 videos
    @lumen · 43 followers · 3 hearts
    apify.tiktok · tiktok_followers · 80% conf · 4d ago
  • @lumen: 43 followers · 3 hearts · 0 videos
    @lumen · 43 followers · 3 hearts
    apify.tiktok · tiktok_followers · 80% conf · 5d ago

USPTO trademarks

USPTO TSDR · 0

No uspto trademarks signals captured.

Reddit organic

SerpAPI · reddit.com · 2

Google Trends

SerpAPI · google_trends · 3
  • Google Trends for "Lumen" — rising, avg90d 62, peak 100
    ↗ slope rising · avg90d 62 · peak 100
    serpapi.trends · google_trends_brand · 70% conf · 4d ago
  • Google Trends for "Lumen" — rising, avg90d 58, peak 100
    ↗ slope rising · avg90d 58 · peak 100
    serpapi.trends · google_trends_brand · 70% conf · 5d ago
  • Category trend "beverage (sparkling protein)" — rising, avg90d 37
    ↗ slope rising · avg90d 37 · peak 100
    serpapi.trends · google_trends_category · 65% conf · 5d ago

AI thesis

Claude Opus 4.7 · 2
  • DILIGENCE — Lumen is an in-scope clear/sparkling protein beverage with real early retail traction: nationwide Sprouts launch announced 7/7/2026 with an exclusive Cocolada SKU, a 2026 UNFI Pitch Slam win (BevNET, 2/24/2026), and a fresh Taste Tomorrow Ventures check (the LA Libations-backed $30M fund, per Drew Fallon 4/21/2026) alongside Rainforest, L.A. Distributing, and KeHe distribution. Google Trends for the brand is rising (90d avg 62, peak 100) and Foreplay shows 30 live ads, suggesting a p
    verdict DILIGENCE
    claude.synthesis · thesis · 80% conf · 4d ago
  • WATCH — Lumen is a clear sparkling protein beverage co-founded by Kris Taylor and Yasir Hashim that just won the 2026 UNFI Pitch Slam (BevNET, 02/24/2026) and launched nationwide at Sprouts with an exclusive Cocolada flavor (BevNET, 07/07/2026). Category timing is strong (clear/functional protein is a rising white-space against Fairlife/Muscle Milk), and Foreplay shows 30 live ads indicating real paid-media investment. However, Tavily surfaces a $30M investment from Taste Tomorrow Ventures (LA L
    verdict WATCH
    claude.synthesis · thesis · 80% conf · 5d ago
●Reading live from Supabase deal_flow · brand_id lumen · 26 signals on file.