Tag: Founder Story
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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 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…
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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 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 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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Meet USC alum: Ashley Whalen, Founder of Chara Greek Frozen Yogurt
Tell us about your company: Chara is a better-for-you Greek frozen yogurt brand reimagining indulgence with clean, high-protein, probiotic-rich pints made from real ingredients. What inspired you to start your business? During my senior year at USC, I noticed my roommates making Greek yogurt bowls for dessert and saw the frozen aisle wasn’t meeting the…
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Meet UCLA alum: Kian Nikzad, Founder Ancient Sun
Tell us about your company: Ancient Sun sells balanced beverages called date shakes at natural food retailers. They are made with simple ingredients: dates, nuts, and spices. Each of the three flavors is inspired from a different region of the world. What inspired you to start your business? I’ve always had an interest in ‘going…
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