| Tell us about your company: |
| Sauz is a pasta sauce brand that offers unique and bold flavors designed to stand out from the traditional options available in the market. |
| What inspired you to start your business? |
| I’ve always had a passion for food, and my co-founder, Troy Bonde, and I saw an opportunity in the pasta sauce aisle that was being overlooked. There were plenty of New York Italian brands all fighting for the same customers, offering the same old products—rows of marinara, roasted garlic, and tomato basil sauces. As two young Gen Z consumers, that wasn’t exactly exciting. So, we decided to shake things up with unique flavors like Hot Honey Marinara, Summer Lemon Marinara, Cracked Pepper Parmesan, and many more. Along with innovating on flavor, we also focused on bright, colorful branding that was fun and fresh! |
| What are your proudest achievements so far? |
| Within 2 years of business, we became the best-selling pasta sauce at Erewhon, Target and Whole Foods Market. Expanding into more than 5,000 retail doors nationwide. |
| What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs: |
| Take the leap! If it weren’t for my time at USC, I might not have had the confidence to take such a big risk at such a young age. My co-founder and I started brainstorming the idea for this brand when we were 21, and we launched it by the time we were 23. Despite what others might have thought was a crazy idea, we believed in our passion and vision for Sauz. |
| Please share a memory or thought about your alma mater: |
| USC is the place where Sauz was born. Without the support and network we achieved by asking for help and connecting with others, Sauz would not be where it is today. |
Alumni Emporium 