Category: Food + Beverage
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Meet UCSB alumni Lisa Boek, Founder Black Bow Sweets
Tell us about your company: Black Bow Sweets is founded on the tradition of giving homemade gifts for the holidays. Because giving and receiving meaningful gifts is very special, we pledge to always surprise and delight with our rich, wholesome, subtly sweet handcrafted & slow roasted candied nuts, elegantly package our delectable creations, and deliver…
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Meet USC alum Sean Kawamura, Founder Study Break Hard Seltzer
Tell us about your company: Study Break is cocktail inspired hard seltzer. Most hard seltzers are made from a beer-derived base, but Study Break stands apart with a unique alcohol base made from oranges. This allows us to deliver bold, refreshing flavor without any of the off-putting aftertaste. Welcome to Flavortown! What inspired you to…
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Meet Northwestern alumni Jake Gutstein, Co-Founder Zest
Tell us about your company: Zest is like Duolingo for cooking. We’re an app that teaches you how to cook! What inspired you to start your business? I had the fire department called on me for burning a Digiorno Pizza in my oven. I did not know how to cook and did not know how…
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Meet USC alumni Carmen Herrera, Founder of Sabi Juice
Tell us about your company: Sabi is a wellness-focused company dedicated to empowering the Latino community through nutrition and education. Specializing in premium cold-pressed juices and smoothies, Sabi aims to bridge the gap in food desert communities by providing natural, nutrient-dense products that support both physical and mental well-being. With a strong emphasis on the…
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Meet USC alumni Jiashu Du, Founder Better Together Foods
Tell us about your company: Better Together Foods is an organic snack brand with a big heart for inclusion! Our mission is to bring people together through the simple joy of sharing healthy, organic snacks. What inspired you to start your business? Better Together Foods was founded on a quinoa popcorn product I developed for…
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Meet UC Berkeley alumni Cassidy Nolan, Founder Mach 1 Hot Sauce
Tell us about your company: Veteran owner and operated Hot Sauce company based out of Napa California. What inspired you to start your business? Came from a culinary background and enjoyed crafting new sauces and meals. I became tired of hot sauces on the market that have sugar, oils, gums and stabilizers. What are your…
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Meet Northwestern alumni Megan Burton, Co-Founder Brainfood
Tell us about your company: Brainfood is the first sparkling water designed specifically for brain health — a clean, caffeine-free beverage infused with science-backed nutrients we commonly lack to support focus, clarity, and stress resilience. Founded by a scientist and a doctor, we are on a mission to make brain wellness simple, enjoyable, and accessible…
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Meet UCLA alumni Erica Groussman, Founder Trubar
Tell us about your company: TRUBAR is a radically real protein bar brand that’s breaking the mold of traditional wellness snacks. We make plant-based, low-sugar bars that taste like indulgent desserts — think “It’s Mint to Be Chip” or “Get in My Belly PB&J.” But TRUBAR isn’t just about bars — it’s about building a…
Alumni Emporium 