Meet Amy Bett | CEO & Co-founder Melo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Bett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m from New South Wales, Australia, and grew up in a tiny town called Jerilderie on my family’s sheep and cattle farm. From a young age I was out helping my dad and grandfather with the animals, riding motorbikes, and learning the satisfaction that comes from a hard day’s work. That upbringing taught me two things that have shaped who I am today: first, that no job is too small, you roll up your sleeves and get it done; and second, that teamwork and persistence matter. I played a lot of team sports and worked casual jobs as early as I could, always chasing the next goal. I loved earning money and building independence, and that drive has never left me.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Melo is a sparkling kava beverage company I co-founded to reinvent how people relax and connect. What sets us apart is simple, our drinks actually work. Within ten minutes, you feel calmer, more at ease, and more social, without alcohol, sugar, or a hangover the next day. Most non-alcoholic options don’t give you that feeling, and that’s the gap Melo fills.

What I’m most proud of is how quickly we’ve grown. We launched in early 2024 and are already in nearly 1,000 stores by the end of this year, with a national Sprouts launch about to roll out. It hasn’t been easy, I moved to Los Angeles on my own for a year to get Melo off the ground while my husband stayed in Australia with our three daughters. We’ve faced funding challenges, the loss of inventory in a warehouse fire, and the uphill battle of educating an entirely new category. But each obstacle forced me to get scrappier, more resilient, and more committed to the vision.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that persistence wins. You have to keep showing up, even when the setbacks feel overwhelming. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and stay laser-focused on your mission.

What I want the world to know about Melo is that it’s more than a drink, it’s a movement to redefine social relaxation. We believe people shouldn’t have to choose between feeling good in the moment and feeling good the next day. With Melo, you get both.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit me in Los Angeles, I’d make sure the week felt like a mix of sunshine, good food, a little adventure, and plenty of moments to just soak in the LA vibe.

We’d start with a beach day in Malibu, brunch at Malibu Farm on the pier, then a swim at Zuma. For dinner, Elephante in Santa Monica. Another day, I’d take them to hike Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park followed by a rooftop lunch at Harriet’s.

I’d make sure we did a day exploring Venice, breakfast at Great White, a stroll down Abbot Kinney for shopping, and sunset cocktails at Kassi rooftop and dinner at Gjelina in Venice..

A brunch and shop down Larchmont Village, must have a quick drink at Beverly Hills Hotel and a show at the Hollywood Bowl if the timing lined up.

The beauty of LA is that you can go from hiking in the hills to dining with ocean views, all in one week and that’s the kind of energy I’d want them to experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to my husband, Jay, who has always been the biggest supporter of my big, sometimes crazy dreams. When I made the decision to move to Los Angeles to launch our kava beverage company, he held down the fort in Australia with our three daughters for an entire year. I could only fly home every 6–9 weeks for a short visit, and even though it was brutal on all of us, he kept our family unit strong. That level of sacrifice and support is something I will never forget, and Melo simply wouldn’t exist without him.

Website: https://www.drinkmelo.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkmelo_/#

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybett/