Lowcountry Revolutionaries

Fuel Without the Crash: Declan Norris & Hailey Orr-Depner on Building Zips Functional Squeezie — Caffeine-Free Performance for Everyday Athletes

William G. Billotte, PhD

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Two College of Charleston sophomores from Chicago walk into the Lowcountry with a big dream: revolutionize how people fuel their bodies for training.

Declan Norris (finance & entrepreneurship) and Hailey Orr-Depner (marketing & entrepreneurship) join host Bill Billotte to share the story behind Zips Functional Squeezie — a clean, caffeine-free pre-workout squeeze packed with purpose.

Every pouch delivers organic raw unfiltered honey for steady energy, beetroot for blood flow and endurance, creatine monohydrate for strength and cognitive support, L-theanine for calm focus, Ceylon Cinnamon for antioxidant & anti-inflammatory benefits, vanilla bean antioxidants, and pink Himalayan salt for hydration. No jitters. No crashes. Just functional, nature-powered performance.

In this raw conversation, Declan and Hailey open up about launching their first company while still in the business school, the passion that drives them in the fitness and health space, and their mission to replace caffeine addiction with smarter, sustainable fuel.

Whether you're a student entrepreneur, weekend warrior, or seasoned founder, this episode is packed with lessons on staying true to your “why,” building a product that actually solves a real problem, and chasing a dream in Charleston’s supportive startup community.

Tune in for inspiration on turning classroom knowledge into a real-world product — and proof that the next generation of Lowcountry innovators is already squeezing every drop of potential out of their ideas.

https://zips-usa.com/

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Wear the Movement
Official LowcountryRevMerch is now live on Etsy: soft tees and mugs built for dock walks, King Street hustles, and the everyday grind of building in Charleston.
Every purchase supports the Lowcountry Revolutionaries movement and helps keep these authentic founder stories free for qualified local entrepreneurs.

Wear the movement. Back the stories that matter.
👉 Shop now: https://lowcountryrevmerch.etsy.com

Also available:
Lowcountry Wisdom — the official book compiled from the best lessons on the show.
Paperback & Kindle → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2KS5S71

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