In June 2022, barely a month after RUANI launched, we stepped onto the NOSH Live stage in New York City and pitched our brownies to a room full of natural-food industry leaders. We walked off it as the Pitch Slam 2022 champion. This is the story of that win, kept here because it was the first time anyone outside our kitchen told us we were onto something.
Beating emerging brands and industry leaders
NOSH Live took place June 13 and 14, 2022 in New York City. Entering the Pitch Slam put us up against both established players and new innovators in the natural food space. On stage, our founder and pastry chef Anirudh shared how RUANI came to be, what the product is, the hard parts of building it, and what sets it apart.
The finalists included Niramaya Foods with their plant-based dips and Absurd Snacks with an allergen-friendly trail mix. Out of six finalists, RUANI came out on top.
What is the NOSH Live Pitch Slam?
NOSH Live is an industry event held in Santa Monica and New York City, combining expert sessions, networking, and the Pitch Slam competition, which comes with a cash prize and, more importantly, direct access to industry decision-makers. Each year, a small group of emerging food brands is selected to pitch to a panel of experts, and the winner gains connections that help develop and grow the business.
What makes RUANI different
RUANI was created by Chef Anirudh, a pastry chef with a decade of professional kitchen experience. The idea was simple to say and hard to do: a brownie made with ingredients you'd keep in your own pantry, that still tastes like the best brownie you've had. That meant almond flour instead of wheat, avocado oil instead of butter, and coconut sugar instead of refined sugar, with no gluten, dairy, grains, soy, or GMOs.
Winning the approval of an industry panel so early gave us a real push to keep going. We knew it was the first of many milestones, and we're grateful to everyone who has been part of the journey since.
Ready to try what the judges tasted? Browse the full lineup: Dashing Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt, Delightful Peanut Butter, Decadent Coffee, and the Delicious Chai Spiced Blondie.