Flavor-through-scent hydration system with multi-country distribution
air up® manufactures a patented drinking system that flavors water via scent pods and retronasal olfaction—a consumer product operating across 11+ countries with millions of users. The hiring mix is heavily marketing-skewed (26 roles), with most positions at senior level, reflecting a brand-scaling phase; notable projects focus on influencer partnerships and market expansion in France and Benelux, while pain points center on retail distribution, platform discovery, and international compliance.
Notable leadership hires: Art Director
air up® is a consumer beverage hardware company headquartered in Munich, founded in 2019. The product is a refillable drinking system with flavor pods that work through scent perception rather than taste additives. The company operates across 11+ countries with a customer base in the millions and employs over 300 people, primarily based in Germany. Operations span product development, manufacturing, and go-to-market via digital marketing and retail partnerships. Current strategic focus includes market penetration in France and the Benelux region and expansion of offline retail channels.
air up® is a refillable drinking system that flavors water through scent alone via proprietary pods. The mechanism is based on retronasal olfaction—scent compounds reach the olfactory receptors during drinking, which the brain perceives as flavor while the water itself remains unflavored.
air up® is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The company has over 300 employees and operates in more than 11 countries, with current hiring concentrated in Germany across marketing, finance, and sales roles.
air up® launched in Europe in July 2019 and now operates in over 11 countries. Current expansion efforts focus on France and the Benelux region, with active hiring and marketing campaigns targeted at those markets.
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