Vita Coco started with a leap of faith, a $75,000 investment and "several" maxed-out credit cards.
Today, the bestselling coconut water company is worth $1.1 billion.
They paid mostly with Kirban's money, which he'd obtained by founding and running a real estate software business after dropping out of college.
That software business still exists, and Kirban still helps run it on the side, he says.
It was only the beginning of Vita Coco's long journey to financial success, with more stumbling blocks along the way.
Persons:
Vita Coco, Michael Kirban, Ira Liran, Liran, Kirban, There's, he'd, hadn't, Vita
Organizations:
Southern, U.S, CNBC, U.S . Food, Drug Administration
Locations:
Manhattan, Brazil, U.S, Bahamas