Robert Neuner spent years in the beer import business before making an unlikely pivot into something far less common: canned oxygen. Known to fans of the brand simply as Rob, he joined Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour to explain how Boost Oxygen went from a niche idea to a product sold in Walmart, Walgreens, and on Amazon.
The conversation covers the FDA visit that could have ended the business before it started, the leap to Shark Tank, and why a product some dismiss as 'just air' has found real demand among athletes, hikers, and everyday customers looking to breathe a little easier.
About Robert Neuner
Robert Neuner built Boost Oxygen after years of working in beer distribution, applying that same entrepreneurial instinct to a product few people had heard of: portable, supplemental oxygen in a can. What began as a niche wellness idea grew into a brand carried by major national retailers.
Neuner and Boost Oxygen gained wider recognition after appearing on Shark Tank in 2019, where the brand landed a deal with Kevin O'Leary. Since then, the company has expanded beyond its original oxygen cans into hydration and electrolyte products, while Neuner continues to navigate the regulatory and retail landscape that comes with building a health and wellness brand from scratch.
What Robert Neuner and Sean Kelly Talked About
- Robert Neuner's unlikely path from importing beer to building a global oxygen brand
- What actually happens inside a can of Boost Oxygen, and when supplemental oxygen helps
- The FDA visit that tested whether the business would survive its early days
- Behind-the-scenes details of pitching Boost Oxygen on Shark Tank and landing Kevin O'Leary
- Why oxygen is banned in boxing, MMA, and tennis, yet still used ringside
- How Boost Oxygen scaled into Walmart, Walgreens, and Amazon while staying senior-friendly on price
- The reasoning behind expanding into a new hydration and electrolyte product line
- Neuner's response to public skepticism that dismisses the product as nothing more than bottled air
Why This Conversation Matters
Robert Neuner's conversation with Sean Kelly is a grounded look at what it actually takes to build a consumer brand around a product most people misunderstand. Between the FDA scrutiny, the Shark Tank pitch, and the slow work of earning retail shelf space, his story is a useful case study for anyone building a business around a skeptical market.
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube
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About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
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