Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Brandner And Brad Harris.
Hi Amber, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Mirth began with a simple question: what would everyday hydration look like if it carried the same emotional resonance we grew up with, but was actually good for you?
We’re Brad and Amber, the co-founders of Mirth, and while our paths into this work were different, they were both driven by a shared curiosity about how people build, create, and solve meaningful problems together.
Amber began her career as an ICU nurse, then followed a curiosity about how ideas move and how people build solutions together into the TEDx community. Storytelling became a bridge into startups, nonprofits, and impact-driven work connected to the World Economic Forum and UC San Diego, with a consistent focus on humanity-centered design and scaling care through thoughtful systems.
Brad’s path moved through the consumer startup world. He got his early start in San Diego at Classy, then went on to build, scale, and exit consumer brands, becoming a three-time exited founder. That experience shaped how he thinks about trust, durability, and what it takes to build brands people return to in everyday life.
We met through the San Diego startup community and stayed connected over the years, often championing each other’s work from a distance. As our careers unfolded, it became clear our perspectives were complementary. When the timing was right, we came together to build Mirth, applying everything we’d learned about care, formulation, storytelling, and brand integrity.
Mirth is built through A-Frame Venture Studio, which we later co-founded with our partner Luke Tobin to support brands like this with the right team and long-term perspective. But at its heart, Mirth exists for a simple reason: to offer clean, honest hydration that supports how people feel, inside and out.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges has been choosing not to compromise. In beverage, there are plenty of ways to move faster by cutting corners on ingredients, leaning on vague labeling, or over-claiming benefits. We made a deliberate decision to build a truly clean product using real 100% organic fruit juice, no natural flavors, and hydration that actually works, even when that meant slower formulation cycles, more iteration, and tougher conversations.
Another challenge has been making decisions that balance care with scale. When you are building something meant for everyday use, especially for families and people who rely on hydration for health reasons, the details matter. Getting those details right takes time, patience, and a willingness to pause rather than rush.
Some of the hardest moments weren’t dramatic. They were quiet ones, where the easier option was clear, but the right one took longer. Over time, those choices shaped the brand. They clarified what mattered and set a standard we’re proud to hold ourselves to.
It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been honest. And that honesty is what gives Mirth its resilience.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mirth from A-Frame Venture Studio?
Mirth is more than a beverage brand. It’s a growing ecosystem built around hydration, emotional awareness, and everyday care.
At the product level, we’re known for our clean label standards. We use real 100% organic fruit juice, no natural flavors, and functional hydration designed for daily use. But what really defines Mirth is everything built around that product. We’re intentionally creating a world that helps people better understand how they feel and why it matters.
That’s where The Little Feels come in. They’re a set of characters and narratives designed to give language to everyday emotions, not to fix them or bypass them, but to notice and normalize them. They show up in our storytelling, our packaging, and our community engagement as a way to invite curiosity rather than pressure. The idea is simple: when people can name what they’re feeling, they’re better equipped to care for themselves and each other.
How we grow Mirth reflects that same mindset. We bring together a diverse group of creators, operators, health experts, designers, and partners through A-Frame Venture Studio, all aligned around shared values rather than a single discipline. That allows us to be comprehensive in how we build, from formulation and labeling to brand expression and community feedback. We don’t believe good ideas come from one background alone.
We’re also deeply committed to listening. From early tasters and families to people managing chronic illness, feedback plays a real role in how Mirth evolves. We’re not afraid to iterate, improve, or admit when something can be better. That openness is part of the brand. It keeps us honest and keeps the product relevant.
What we’re most proud of is that Mirth feels alive. It’s not static. It grows with the people who use it and the community forming around it. We’re building deliberately, guided by values, feedback, and care, with the long view in mind.
That’s what sets Mirth apart. It’s a clean hydration product, yes, but it’s also a shared language, a creative world, and a collective effort to make everyday well-being feel more human.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Maybe just this.
We didn’t name Mirth because we think joy can be packaged or promised. We chose it because joy tends to show up in moments. In presence. In connection. In the small pauses we don’t rush past.
So much of life asks us to move faster, optimize, or perform. We’ve found that the opposite is often what helps. Slow down. Drink some water. Step outside. Let your body regulate. Notice how you actually feel.
Nature has a quiet way of helping with that. A walk, fresh air, movement, light. Those moments don’t fix everything, but they create space. And in that space, mirth has a way of finding you.
If there’s anything we hope people take from what we’re building, it’s permission to be human. To feel what you feel. To care for yourself and each other in small, everyday ways.
That’s where the moments of mirth live.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drinkmirth.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkmirth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkmirth
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drinkmirth
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drinkmirth/playlists
- Other: https://aframeventurestudio.com/
Image Credits
Photographer Steven Piper
