The seeds of the sacha inchi plant can boost weight loss, gut health, and cholesterol levels. Entrepreneur Aaron Gailmor converted it into a snack item through his company, Brass Roots. He sells keto-friendly snacks that are also environmentally-friendly. Aaron recently pitched his startup on season 14 of Shark Tank and couldn’t reach a deal. As of 2023, Brass Roots is worth an estimated $4 million.
About the Founder
Aaron Gailmor hails from New Orleans, Louisiana and studied at Boston College’s Wallace E. Carroll Graduate School of Management. After four years, he got a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics with strong hopes of a career in finance.
Gailmor interned as a financial analyst at Liberty Manual Group a year before graduating. In 2013, he co-founded his first food business, SuperEats. He also worked as an investment analyst at investment banking firm Citi. For over 14 years, Aaron built an impressive career in private equity.
Founding Brass Roots
Shortly after discovering that his father had a heart condition, Gailmor was inspired to learn more about healthy eating. He came upon sacha inchi seeds, also known as Incan Peanut, and wanted to make healthy snacks out of them.
Aaron partnered with a man named Chan, who has sacha inchi farms set up in Laos and Thailand. As he started a company, he also prepared donation programs for organizations that promote nutrition, music, youth empowerment, and more.
Brass Roots was founded in 2019, with three snack products made out of sacha inchi. With Roasted Sacha Inchi Seeds as their flagship product, the startup expanded rapidly through their ecommerce store.
Getting on Shark Tank
Due to his early success, Aaron raised $1 million in funding from a leading nut processing company, John B Sanfilippo & Son. He used the capital to get distribution deals with Sprouts Markets, Wegmans, and Whole Foods.
The Boston College graduate is a big Shark Tank fan and was eager to get his business on the show. His main reason for doing so was that he wanted to get more brand partnerships and launch more products into the market. Aaron arrived in the Tank dressed in an eye-catching suit that grabbed the attention of the Sharks.
After Shark Tank
The episode has only aired but the Brass Roots will quickly experience the “Shark Tank effect”. Typically 24-48 hours after airing are overwhelming and hopefully the business is prepared to handle a huge spike in orders. The product in particular is popular among keto fans who want healthy fats, fiber and protein. The business should become profitable this year.
If you want to taste their healthy snacks, you can buy them at retail stores including Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Sprouts Markets. They are also available online at Amazon and BrassRootsFood.com.
Their Roasted Sacha Inchi Seeds have an average rating of 4 stars on Amazon. Over the years, so many food products have been pitched on Shark Tank but Brass Roots looks like a promising business. Currently, it’s valued at $4 million.
