Hardware Podcasts

Catalina Crunch: Krishna Kaliannan. From Homemade Keto Cocoa Puffs to Breakfast Aisle Breakthrough

How I Built This · 6 Jul 2026 · 1h 03m

What this episode covers

Krishna Kaliannan, founder of Catalina Crunch, explains how a diagnosis of type one diabetes and epilepsy led him to develop a high-protein, low-carb cereal using ingredients like pea protein and monk fruit. After initial failures in tech startups, he iterated on recipes in his New York apartment, eventually moving to Indiana to build his own manufacturing capability when co-packers rejected his volume. The brand scaled from a $1 million DTC startup to a $100+ million brand with retail presence in Whole Foods and Costco, navigating complex supply chain challenges and ingredient cost fluctuations.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies and companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Whole Foods, Costco, Texas A&M, General Mills, Kellogg's, Post, Ben & Jerry's, Dollar Shave Club, Chobani
Products
Catalina Crunch, Way Puffs
Tools
Hobart Mixers
Materials
Pea Protein, Monk Fruit, Chicory Root Fiber

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