Category: Food + Beverage
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Meet USC alum Houston Buehrle, Founder of Little Zing
Tell us about your company: Little Zing is a small batch condiment company built around a 100 year old Danish mustard recipe passed down from founder Houston Buehrle’s great grandmother, Helle Jorgensen. What started as a holiday tradition made by Houston’s father Peter has grown into something Houston felt was too good to keep within…
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Meet NYU alum Levent Tuysuzoglu, Founder of Hazelicious
Tell us about your company: Hazelicious is on a mission to break the hazelnut out of its shell and show the world how delicious and versatile it can be—a natural choice for non-dairy alternatives, nut butters, and much more. What inspired you to start your business? Passing of my grandparents who owned a small hazelnut…
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Meet UCSB alum Daphne Subar, Founder of Subarzsweets
Tell us about your company: Subarzsweets specializes in making gifting meaningful and intentional again. We ship a beautifully curated box of delicious Subarz (a cross between a cookie and biscotti) anywhere in the United States accompanied by a handwritten note. What inspired you to start your business? My three daughters inspired and challenged me to…
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Meet Northwestern alum Lynette Kruk, Founder of LIXMIX
Tell us about your company: LIXMIX is a premium ready-to-drink espresso brand inspired by global travel, petite desserts, and the joy of small indulgences. We create bold, dessert-inspired coffee flavors like Strawberry Kiss and Dulce de Leche in sleek petite cans designed to feel playful, elevated, and effortlessly chic. Our mission is to bring café-level…
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Meet Northwestern and U of Wisconsin alum Eli Mash, Founder of Mákor Coffee
Tell us about your company: Màkor Coffee is an organic coffee brand built around a simple idea: make your daily coffee do more. Our signature Moments Blend combines high-quality organic Arabica coffee with organic cacao and a small blend of whole-food ingredients like turmeric, Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, chaga, and cayenne. It’s designed for people who…
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Meet UCLA alum Tanisha Pitts, Founder of Dreamy Vegan
Tell us about your company: Dreamy Vegan is where nostalgia meets plant-based indulgence. We create whimsical, dairy-free ice cream treats that bring back childhood memories with every bite. Our handcrafted, high-quality flavors are inspired by classic desserts, reimagined in a fun and ethical way. Dreamy Vegan isn’t just about ice cream—it’s about joy, playfulness, and…
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Meet Michigan State alum: Jack Joseph, Co-Founder of RMBR
Tell us about your company: RMBR (pronounced “remember”) is a Chicago-based functional beverage company reimagining the role of kombucha in everyday life. We create crushable, sparkling probiotic teas designed for modern rituals – moments of daily unwind, social connection, and intentional living. While traditional kombucha can be overly acidic and polarizing, RMBR takes a flavor-first…
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Meet USC alum: Zac Coughlin, Founder of Zac’s Sweet Shop
Tell us about your company: Zac’s Sweet Shop is a chocolate company making gourmet, innovative, and delicious bite-sized chocolate confections including truffles, cookies, pretzels, and chocolate bark. Zac is on the mission to reinvent the box of chocolates experience through purpose, passion, and innovative products. What inspired you to start your business? Ever since I…
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Meet USC alum: Chloe Choi, Co-Founder MIILS
Tell us about your company: MIILS is a next-generation cereal protein shake brand to bring taste, convenience, and fun back into the protein aisle. We’re the first in the U.S. to launch single-serve, resealable pouches with real crunchy cereal inclusions inside. Our mission is simple: help busy, passionate, and successful people stay fueled with clean,…
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Meet NYU alum: Tatyana Jones Founder of DEFI Snacks
Tell us about your company: DEFI Snacks is rewriting the rules of better-for-you snacking. Founded by NYU Stern MBA ’15 alumna Tatyana Jones, DEFI is a breakthrough snack brand built for people who refuse to compromise — bold flavor, clean ingredients, and a nutrition profile that actually delivers. We’re not another “healthy” snack hiding sugar…
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