Category: Food + Beverage
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Meet UCSB student Fernando Ambrosio, Founder of Yari Energy
Tell us about your company: Yari Energy is a canned, yerba mate beverage based in Los Angeles. Built by myself, a solo founder. Yari leads with authenticity—it is real yerba mate, zero sugar, naturally caffeinated, and no artificial ingredients at all. Truly a better for you drink overall. We just completed our first pilot batch…
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Meet U of Chicago Alum Suahn Hur, Co-Founder BARI
Tell us about your company: BARI is America’s first Asian baby food brand raising the standard of baby food with diverse food traditions, rigorous safety standards, and balanced nutrition. Founded by two sisters Subin and Suahn, BARI offers ready-to-eat meals, snacks, beverages, and first foods that goes beyond the purees. What inspired you to start…
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Meet USC alum Emmy Rener, Founder Sophisticated Spreads
Tell us about your company: We are a charcuterie board company based in Los Angeles, focused on creating bespoke grazing tables and artisanal cheeseboards with the highest quality and locally sourced ingredients. What inspired you to start your business? During a gap year after high school, I decided to turn my passion for cheese and…
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Meet UC Irvine & USC Alum Cory Olson, Founder of Good Grains
Tell us about your company: Good Grains is a modern cereal brand creating organic, minimally processed products made from puffed whole grains. Unlike most conventional cereals, our products are puffed rather than extruded and contain no refined sugars, seed oils, or preservatives. Sweetened only with organic honey, Good Grains delivers the nostalgic taste and crunch…
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Meet USC alum Holly Paul, Co-Founder MIZO
Tell us about your company: MIZO makes bold, non-carbonated spiked juice pouches with 90% less sugar than leading flavored alcoholic drinks. No bubbles. Real fruit juice. No artificial flavor, sweeteners or dyes. What inspired you to start your business? A few years ago, I started experiencing chronic gut issues and was surprised to learn that…
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Meet USC alum George Zhou, Co-Founder Buffs
Tell us about your company: Making the worlds first beef puff. What inspired you to start your business? Health and wellness affect more than your body, but your mind, focus, and productivity. We saw how important food was to our livelihood and wanted to make the best snack on earth. One made out of one…
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Meet MSU alum: Mary Aipoalani, Founder PWR^UP
Tell us about your company: PWR^UP is the first collagen protein powder that turns functional nutrition into something people trust and crave. Forget boring snacks. Forget empty calories. No artificial ingredients/preservatives. Protein powered cocoa powder you can eat right out of the bag. PWR^UP is your delicious upgrade. Dip it, sprinkle it, blend it, and…
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Meet UCLA alum Alan Smith, Co-Founder of Good Candy
Tell us about your company: Good Candy is the candy that refuses to compromise—sour gummy bites that taste like your childhood favorites, with 70% less sugar, electrolytes, zero artificial anything, and eye-catching retro packaging that makes you smile before you even open the bag. Founded by three dads who saw a broken candy aisle and…
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Meet UC Berkeley student: Aditya Banerjee, Founder of Posana
Tell us about your company: Started Posana this as a high school project to make protein exciting; I am currently a sophomore at UC Berkeley, studying Nutrition. Our cinnavanilla, matcha latte, and mango turmeric are made in small batches, with premium ingredients, and made with love in LA. Cheers! What inspired you to start your…
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Meet NYU alum Tapasya Bali, Founder of 100 Cal Snacks
Tell us about your company: At 100 Cal Snacks, we focus on the most powerful driver of overall health—the gut–brain axis. When the gut is imbalanced, it sends stress signals to the brain, increasing cravings and disrupting mood and digestion. Our snacks are designed to restore that balance. Each bite is crafted with functional, clinically…
