What’s UpDog?
Written by Elise Keenum, Summer Intern, Class of 2020
My name is Elise Keenum and this summer I have the joy of interning for the lively startup, UpDog Kombucha. UpDog is a women-owned microbrewery based out of Winston-Salem, NC. Our busy team brews small-batch kombucha flavored with local fruits, herbs, and roots. Now… what’s kombucha? Kombucha is a naturally fermented tea that is rich in probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants that promote digestive, immune, and overall health. I got hooked on the fizzy drink this past semester, looking for something that was both delicious and healthy, and a friend introduced me to UpDog. I am mainly working and partnering with one of the owners of UpDog, Lauren Miller. Lauren is a recent graduate of Wake Forest University with a degree in Economics and minor in Entrepreneurship. In 2016, she decided to start brewing her own kombucha and turned her wholesome hobby into a business. My time with Lauren is never dull, we are constantly on the move from the brewery, the farmers market, and in between.
Our busy days in Winston-Salem has shown me all the aspects of the city that I missed during the school year. I find that during school it is difficult to fully immerse in both Wake Forest and Winston-Salem communities, so this summer has been an important venture into the city I have called home for the past two years. We visit yoga studios, local grocery stores, and quirky pubs for deliveries and sales. This has introduced me to a variety of people that share similar goals and values, many of which center around a healthy lifestyle.
Much of this exploration comes along with having an entrepreneurship internship. Lauren works to ensure that I am deeply involved in every aspect of the business and integrated into all levels. Going into this summer, I wanted to understand the intricacies and realities of a small startup business. UpDog has welcomed me into the more difficult days of running to fix a broken kegerator, to the thrill of the farmer’s market. I have gained more knowledge on how to grow and manage a business efficiently, than if I were at a larger company, or less involved in the business.
Before working at UpDog, I had a faint understanding of the beverage business. For two years in high school, I worked for Budweiser and spent my days in Walmart freezers stocking beer. My job is comparable in that I help merchandise drinks and distribute around my town; however, the massive size of the Budweiser production took away from the meaning of my work. With UpDog, I am able to use the skills I learned with Budweiser and apply them on a smaller scale. I have enjoyed proposing systems we used at the larger business and seeing how they worked at our local one.
In addition to my previous drink experience, I am able to use my English degree at UpDog. One of the projects I have been assigned is to clean up their already excellent website. I spent a few mornings editing the informational FAQs, About page, and the bios on the owners of UpDog. Soon I will put in my new paragraphs and reconfigure the website to be less busy, and simpler. I have truly enjoyed writing for the company by using what I have learned in the classroom for a real-world application.
Within my first week at UpDog I have gained so much knowledge and experience I never thought possible. Their ability to manage crises by adapting to the situation and setting short and long-term goals has proven to me that a startup can grow and run smoothly. I am excited to learn more from Lauren and offer a few of my skills I have picked up along the way.