Founder - ProSo

Sam Kramer and Dalton Anderson are the co-founders of ProSo, a protein soda born out of friendship, improv comedy, and Sam's background as a dietician. Now found at local spots like Tropical Grille, Swamp Rabbit Cafe, and Spinx Market, ProSo is growing fast right here in Greenville.

"Sam Kramer and Dalton Anderson are the co-founders of ProSo, a protein soda born out of friendship, improv comedy, and Sam's background as a dietician. Now found at local spots like Tropical Grille, Swamp Rabbit Cafe, and Spinx Market, ProSo is growing fast right here in Greenville."

Sam Kramer and Dalton Anderson didn’t set out to build a beverage company together. The two met through improv, and it was actually Sam’s background as a Dietitian that sparked the idea. Sam was trying to help Dalton get healthier, and in the process, he started experimenting in the kitchen and came up with the original ProSo recipe. The name itself is short for “protein soda,” which captures exactly what they were after: a soda that actually does something good for you. What began as a personal health fix between friends turned into something they decided to take seriously, and Proso was born.

Traditionally, protein products are athlete-focused, often resulting in poor quality, taste, convenience, and cost. So a gap in the assortment exists. Sam & Dalton created a beverage that is intended to make soda and protein inclusive and approachable to the under-represented protein consumer (moms, kids, GLP-1 users).  ProSo leads with credibility, high quality ingredients and was intentionally formulated to be light and crisp to not sacrifice quality, taste, or nutrients from other foods. 

Like most beverage founders quickly learn, the economics of the industry are brutal. Margins are razor thin, and shipping is expensive almost no matter how you slice it. Locally, Sam and Dalton can lean on community support and even make deliveries by hand, which keeps things manageable. The real challenge is figuring out how to scale beyond Greenville without losing that efficiency, building out logistics that work just as well at a larger scale as they do when you can drive the product over yourself.

Even with those challenges, the wins have been steady. Getting placed in local spots like Tropical Grille, Swamp Rabbit Cafe, Spinx Market, and Pkl Park felt like proof the product was resonating. Beyond retail wins, Sam and Dalton point to something simpler: building a real product from scratch, doing it with their best friends, and getting the chance to pitch to companies like Walmart along the way. Every stage has come with its own kind of win and its own kind of learning curve.

Greenville’s startup ecosystem has played a real role in getting them here. Dalton, who also serves as creative director for GVL Today, brings a unique perspective to ProSo, having a front-row seat to 6AM City‘s own growth from scrappy startup to a company that just celebrated its 10-year anniversary, a reminder of what’s possible when you stay rooted in Greenville. He and Sam have leaned on NextGEN resources like Match Day and Growth Labs to sharpen how they talk about their product, both to customers and to investors. Their first real pitch outside of friends and family came through last year’s Match Day, where feedback from former Jeni’s Ice Creams CEO John Lowe helped get them to a turning point in how they think about the business.

Outside of ProSo, Sam and Dalton are both self-described “hobby hoppers.” Between the two of them, you’ll find them rock climbing, playing pickleball, running ultra marathons, and continuing their love of improv and sketch comedy, the very thing that brought them together in the first place!

Looking ahead, Sam and Dalton want to get ProSo into schools, hospitals, and other non-traditional protein settings. They’re focused on growing their retail footprint, expanding their flavor lineup, and continuing to refine the formula. They’ve also had a taste of what community events can look like, and after how much fun they had at the PKL Park Olympics, they’re eager to host events like that down the line, bringing the same local energy that helped build ProSo back to the community that supported it.

Follow along: Want to keep up with ProSo’s journey (and see what flavor might be next)? Give them a follow on Instagram [@drinkproso] for behind-the-scenes looks at the recipe development, retail wins, and the occasional improv-inspired antics.

Grab a bottle locally: Ready to try ProSo for yourself? You can pick it up at any of their Greenville retail partners — Tropical Grille, Swamp Rabbit Cafe, Spinx Market, or Pkl Park.

Order online: Not local to Greenville (yet)? Head to their website to order ProSo directly and get it shipped to your door. Use code GVL10 at checkout for 10% off your first order.