The $800M Exit that Started with a Single Muffin
Venture Capital

Masters of Scale

The $800M Exit that Started with a Single Muffin

Masters of ScaleJan 8, 2026

AI Summary

In this episode, Katlin Smith recounts how she turned a humble almond‑flour muffin experiment into Simple Mills, a clean‑snack brand that grew into a $800 million exit. She discusses the challenges of scaling a health‑focused food company, the strategic decisions that led to its acquisition, and the importance of staying true to a mission of nutrient‑dense, tasty products. Smith’s perspective highlights the power of product‑first innovation and disciplined brand building in the consumer‑goods space.

Episode Description

Simple Mills started with its founder Katlin Smith tinkering with almond flour muffin recipes in her apartment kitchen. Over the next decade, she built a better-for-you food powerhouse. Smith talks with host Jeff Berman about scaling the brand, selling the company for nearly $800 million dollars, and staying laser-focused on making delicious snacks with clean, nutrient-dense ingredients.

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Show Notes

Simple Mills started with its founder Katlin Smith tinkering with almond flour muffin recipes in her apartment kitchen. Over the next decade, she built a better-for-you food powerhouse. Smith talks with host Jeff Berman about scaling the brand, selling the company for nearly $800 million dollars, and staying laser-focused on making delicious snacks with clean, nutrient-dense ingredients.

Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/newsletter/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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