Building a Billion-Dollar Brand X Pinky Cole

Aisha “Pinky” Cole is a busy woman. The founder and CEO of vegan burger chain Slutty Vegan now has products ranging from kettle chips to CBD gummies, not to mention a shoe deal, a foundation, and an upcoming cookbook (Eat Plants Bitch). In addition, @pinky907 says a major grocery chain has ordered 60,000 units of Slutty Vegan dip, which comes in flavors like Bangin’ Hot-Lanta Chik’n and has already been on shelves at Target. And Cole is expanding beyond the Atlanta-based chain’s five stores into markets like Brooklyn and Baltimore. She says her goal is “to build a billion-dollar brand.”

In a @forbestheculture exclusive, Cole says she has raised $25 million through a Series A funding round that values her four-year-old brand at $100 million. Cole plans to use the money to open 10 Slutty Vegan locations by the end of this year and another 10 in 2023. She’s also planning to hire a chief operating officer and chief marketing officer to help manage growth.

Via: @forbes