The seed money covered insurance and part of the trademarking, but "it was gone in a blink of eye," DaCosta said.
DaCosta used to make batches of the limeade for friends and family. She decided to bottle it after being downsized from her office job at a local nonprofit. Using her own cash and that of several individual investors, she launched the beverage line in New York City in June.
"I really have to make my own good luck story," she said.