Biography

Chris Kanik is a rare visionary who has made significant strides in the world of sustainability technology, driven by his passion, imagination, and diverse background. As the CEO and Founder of Smart Cups, Chris has disrupted the beverage industry with his pioneering printed beverage product. His patented delivery system technology has the potential to revolutionize the transportation and storage of consumer-packaged goods, reducing overall resource consumption worldwide.

Growing up as a first-generation American in Union City, New Jersey, Chris was inspired to challenge the status quo and design better solutions to existing systems after witnessing the struggles and inequalities of those around him. His passion for scientific research began at a young age, with him entering a lab at age 12 to study the chemical degradation of aspartame in diet sodas over extended storage periods at room temperature. He joined a research team in the Nutritional Sciences Department at Rutgers University at 14, where he contributed to the discovery of a functional compensation by the keratinocyte-FABP in the study of adipocyte metabolism in adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) knockout mice (aP2-/-) after short-term high-fat feeding. Chris then joined a research team working on a NASA-funded project developing biologically based nano-robots at Rutgers in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Despite his impressive academic achievements, including a BA in Economics from Cornell University, Chris followed his passion for stand-up comedy, becoming a regular on the New York comedy scene. His ability to think outside the box and pursue his dreams led him to become an international headlining entertainer, inspiring those around him.

Today, Chris leads Smart Cups, a sustainability-driven technology company that has introduced the World's First Printed Beverage. The patented delivery system technology allows flavors and active materials to be printed on substrate surfaces, making it applicable in various industries, including pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, reducing the world's overall resources. Chris's diverse education and experiences have uniquely prepared him to lead Smart Cups' 23,000 square foot manufacturing and R&D facility in Mission Viejo, CA.

Chris's unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability makes him a rare human being and true visionary in our time. With Chris at the helm of Smart Cups, the possibilities for the future of sustainability-driven technology are endless.

- IMDb mini biography by: Smart Cups