Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Laver.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
My new energy drink company Lucky F*ck is a culmination of my life’s story and mantra to keep going. I come from a well-known tennis family; my cousin is Australian Tennis Phenom Rod Laver. I, too, played on the junior circuit. The night before traveling to a tournament with my dad, I had a premonition we wouldn’t make it. I expressed my concerns to my mom, but she thought I was a nervous 12-year-old. The next day, our plane crashed. Delta flight 191 to Fort Worth/Dallas killed 136 people, including my dad. I was the youngest survivor. I remember the explosions, the yelling, the loud noises. My life changed in an instant. I suffered from anxiety and depression and did poorly in school. At 27, I experienced homelessness. It all came to a head right then, but someone was watching out for me because I met my incredible angel, Michelle. Fast forward, and we were pregnant with my daughter Katie. We had a smooth pregnancy, but then she fainted one day at Starbucks, and again, life gave us more twists.
Katie was born with Cerebral Palsy. At age 5, she was diagnosed with Failure to Thrive, weighing only 15 pounds. I realized the tube-feeding formula used to nourish her was filled with chemicals, not whole, natural foods. That’s eventually how I built my company, Kate Farms. Using a Vitamix at home, I created a plant-based shake to save her life. It eventually morphed into a successful business because there are more Katie’s in the world, more people who can benefit from a healthier tube-feeding option. It’s become the #1 recommended plant-based formula in hospitals. I founded Kate Farms in 2012 and left the business in 2021. I launched my new company Lucky F*ck in August 2023. It exists because I recognize that people need hope and to feel energized and motivated like I did. The energy drink market is thriving, but there’s a massive void for people who want cleaner, better options. Through our unique formula, we can deliver delicious flavors with 0 aftertaste, which is truly unheard of in this business. It’s only 5 calories with 5 super ingredients like Maca and Beta-Alanine. It’s dosed just right to give you that boost you need without leaving you with that jittery feeling most drinks give you. We plan national activations to inspire hope and get people to join our gratitude movement!
For the next six weeks in Austin, we’re activating “Non-Random Acts of Luck” and handing out over 20,000 cans to fuel hardworking Austinites in their pursuit of success—whatever that may be. Sampling locations include Austin City Limits, the University of Texas campus, and Zilker Metropolitan Park.
As part of the program, we will deliver 50 carefully planned Non-Random Acts of Luck via inspirational prizes to those who get extra lucky. These isolated moments will occur throughout Austin, including Lady Bird Lake, Alamo Drafthouse, and Rainey Street. The reasons behind these Acts will run the gamut—from helping a college student pay for expensive textbooks to supporting local businesses to something as simple as wanting to brighten someone’s day. Each recipient will be given the tools to pass the luck on to others in their community who could use it. The goal is intrinsic to Lucky F*ck’s brand mission: to inspire and show that anything is possible. Follow up on Instagram to learn more!
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
As mentioned, my life has been full of obstacles, and I’m still here. My message for people is to keep going. Life isn’t easy, and people have different ways of coping with their pain and struggles. With Lucky F*ck, we want to energize them to rally and persevere. Also, I want to mention that I created the Mr. Lucky Foundation, the charity arm of Lucky F*ck energy drink, to activate gratitude and pay-it-forward initiatives globally to inspire hope.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lucky F*ck Energy Drink?
I’m a beverage entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the founder and CEO of Lucky F*ck – a cleaner, better-for-you energy drink with 5 calories, no aftertaste, and five super ingredients. It’s available in 5 flavors at luckyfckenergy.com and Amazon. It was created to motivate others to keep going and defy the odds. Five years ago, my son gave me a bracelet for Christmas with the inscription Lucky F*ck. It was a way to celebrate my life full of tragic lows, dizzying heights, and perseverance. When I decided to launch an energy drink company that would motivate people to see beyond their current situation and inspire hope, Lucky F*ck was the only name to capture this spirit. It felt authentic. Yes, it’s a bold name and can be polarizing, but life is complex, as has everything I’ve been through. Having a name like Lucky Folk wouldn’t have captured that.
I’m proud of my incredible family – my wife Michelle and five kids are my purpose. I’m also proud how the companies I’ve built have transformed people’s lives. I created Kate’s Farm to save my daughter’s life. I’ve launched Lucky F*ck because I know people like me who feel no hope and don’t know how to carry on. We want to inspire hope and create a movement of gratitude and positivity. We want to remind people that their current situation doesn’t define them. Through Lucky F*ck, we want to energize them to push through their challenges.
What changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Put yourself out there, read books, and attend industry events. Contact people directly through LinkedIn or ask your current contacts to make an intro. You need to be bold! If you’re going to be a successful CEO, you have to understand all facets of the business. Learn from people older and younger than you. Ask questions. Stay curious and help others – do good in the world, expand your network, and others will want to assist you.
Pricing:
- 12 pack for $34,88
Contact Info:
- Website: www.luckyfckenergy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckyfckenergy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luckyfckenergy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucky-beverage-co/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@luckyfckenergy
Image Credits
Lucky F*ck
