Caitlin James

Caitlin is the co-founder CEO of DROUGHT, Michigan’s premier organic, cold-pressed juice company. In 2010, along with her three sisters, Caitlin saw the need for more accessible, healthy options in the metro-Detroit area. DROUGHT began as an endeavor to forge a path of personal wellbeing, and has transformed into an iconic staple in the organic industry. Their 15,000 square ft Berkley, Michigan headquarters employs nearly 50 people that work with the sisters to source, manufacture and distribute juice products throughout the US as well as to four company-owned storefronts.

Prior to entering the beverage manufacturing space, Caitlin worked as a teacher for children and young adults with developmental disabilities. An extension of this work led to volunteer teaching as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jordan. She found that many of her students with special needs maintained very strict plant-based diets, and from there her interest in creating an organic wellness business grew.

DROUGHT was recognized as one of ‘America’s Best Juice Bars’ by Food & Wine Magazine, and has been mentioned in Forbes, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Vogue. In 2013, Caitlin was recognized as one of Crain’s Detroit Business ’20 in their 20s’ as well as the recipient of MSU Product Center ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2014. DROUGHT’s success has led to collaborations with Virgin Atlantic, Carhartt, J. Crew and Puma. Caitlin and DROUGHT are part of the Endeavor Entrepreneur network which focuses on scaling high-growth potential businesses; In August 2018, she completed coursework in Scaling Entrepreneurial Ventures at Harvard Business School.