Sometimes the biggest business ideas start in the most ordinary moments. For Seth Goldstein, 29, and his friend Steven Rofrano, inspiration struck during a snack break in Miami.
Sometimes the biggest business ideas start in the most ordinary moments. For Seth Goldstein, 29, and his friend Steven Rofrano, inspiration struck during a snack break in Miami. Out of that simple moment came Ancient Crunch, the company behind the chip brands MASA and Vandy, which has grown from modest beginnings to a thriving business on track for $250 million in 2026.
Goldstein and Rofrano invested $250,000 of their own money to get the company off the ground in 2022. From the very first month, the business generated revenue, with sales reaching $30,000 monthly shortly after launch.
The brand started with a simple vision: create chips and snacks that combined ancient ingredients with modern taste, delivering a healthier yet indulgent option for snack lovers. Their focus on flavor, quality, and unique branding quickly resonated with consumers.
Ancient Crunch’s journey illustrates the power of persistence and strategic growth. Goldstein and Rofrano leveraged their backgrounds, industry knowledge, and willingness to invest in quality to scale the business. Key steps in their growth included:
The founders were deliberate about reinvesting early profits into expanding product lines, improving packaging, and increasing marketing reach, creating a sustainable growth loop that kept the business scaling.
By the end of its first full year, Ancient Crunch had achieved $10 million in revenue, a milestone that many startups aspire to reach after several years. The brand’s unique positioning and commitment to quality have enabled it to stand out in the highly competitive snack food market.
The company is now projecting revenue of $250 million by 2026, fueled by expanding retail presence, partnerships with health-focused stores, and continuous product innovation.
Goldstein and Rofrano’s story offers several insights for aspiring entrepreneurs:
Their experience demonstrates that even a small initial investment can grow into a multimillion-dollar business with careful planning, creativity, and persistence.
Ancient Crunch combines health-conscious snacking with bold flavors, catering to a growing market segment that demands transparency, quality, and authenticity. Unlike traditional chips, MASA and Vandy offer ancient grain ingredients, clean labeling, and products designed for modern lifestyles.
The brands’ emphasis on storytelling and heritage resonates with consumers, creating a loyal customer base that values both taste and wellness.
Goldstein notes that the idea’s simplicity and their timing were crucial. The founders recognized growing consumer interest in healthy snacking and launched a product that met that demand in an accessible way.
From snack break inspiration to rapid revenue growth, the journey illustrates how passion, timing, and execution can turn a casual idea into a booming business.
Ancient Crunch plans to continue expanding its product lines, grow retail distribution, and explore international markets. The company aims to maintain its focus on quality and innovation while scaling operations to meet rising demand.
Goldstein says that the founders are driven not just by revenue but by the fulfillment of building something meaningful. Their journey highlights the potential of side hustles to evolve into substantial, impactful businesses.
From a $250,000 personal investment to $10 million in revenue in just over a year, Seth Goldstein and Steven Rofrano have shown how a small, passionate side hustle can turn into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Ancient Crunch’s trajectory demonstrates that combining creativity, quality, and strategic execution can yield extraordinary results in a competitive market.
Their story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs: even ordinary moments, like a snack break, can spark ideas that grow into remarkable businesses. With projections of $250 million in 2026, Ancient Crunch proves that bold ideas executed with dedication and vision can achieve extraordinary success.
