Werbewelle: Austria’s First Free Beverage Company Is Taking Off

The free product revolution continues to spread — and one of the most exciting examples is happening in Austria. Werbewelle, the country’s first free beverage company, was founded by a group of ambitious Austrian entrepreneurs who were inspired by FreeWater’s work. Their mission: to prove that free and negatively priced business models can thrive in Europe, too.

Werbewelle launched their project with free bottled water in plastic packaging and plans to introduce glass bottles soon. But what makes them especially unique is their approach to finding advertisers. While FreeWater primarily used social media and organic reach to secure partnerships, Werbewelle built their revenue base through outbound sales — and it’s paying off. In just the past 12 months, they’ve worked with more than 130 paying advertisers, an impressive feat for a young startup in a completely new category.

The journey hasn’t been easy. It took Werbewelle about six months of planning, preparation, and experimentation before they fully understood how to operate and scale their business. But once they did, momentum built quickly. Today, they’re growing faster than ever — and they’re on track to distribute their one millionth free beverage within the next six months.

Major brands are already taking notice. Werbewelle’s advertiser list now includes global names like Lamborghini, demonstrating that some of the world’s most prestigious companies see the value of reaching audiences through free, ad-supported products.

A Global Movement Is Taking Shape

Werbewelle is part of a fast-growing global movement that’s redefining what’s possible in consumer goods. From Free Paani in Pakistan distributing more than a million bottles and funding water wells, to On the House in Australia making tampons free in public spaces, to FreeWater’s own viral projects in the United States, the message is clear: free and negatively priced business models work — and they scale.

Each of these companies is proving the same point in different markets: essential goods can be funded by advertising and alternative revenue streams instead of consumer wallets. As more startups adopt the model and more global brands participate, we’re moving closer to a future where free water, free food, and free essentials are the norm — and where every product helps fund solutions to some of humanity’s biggest problems.

Werbewelle’s story is a powerful reminder that this future is no longer theoretical. It’s already here — and it’s spreading faster than anyone imagined.