Looking Outside (Better) Snacking: Matt Weiss, Founder & CEO RIND Snacks

In this episode we discuss the future of snacking with daydreamer, sunshine chaser and optimist, Matt Weiss. Matt founded his own upcycled snacking company, RIND Snacks, and lives by the mantra of making weird and wonderful things happen, even if it feels impossible.

In this chat, Jo and Matt discuss what health means in the context of personal happiness and fulfilment, from what you eat, to the lens through which you see the world, to self awareness of what gives you sustenance (food or otherwise!).

Born and raised in Miami in the 70’s and 80’s surrounded by an abundance of tropical fruit and a great grandmother who lived to 100 with great vitality, Matt describes his passion for making the food industry a little more in tune with mother nature, and therefore with fewer shortcuts and a little less of the ‘perfection’ we’re used to seeing in what’s pre-packed and produced at scale.

Matt shares his transition from being in management consulting for over two decades, to creating and running his own company, and in particular the shift in disciple required to motivate a group of people to rally behind his own vision. A family business, Matt shares how RIND allows his children to also learn from the evolution of the company; sharing in its successful growth but also seeing first hand the sacrifices needed in making something happen when no one else will.

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To look outside, Matt looks literally outside! Taking time to daydream clears his restless mind and allows space for imaginative thinking. By resetting his mind, and ensuring he is doing work not just ‘busy-ness’, Matt usually comes up with great ideas.

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Prior to RIND, Matt Weiss spent 20 years in investment research at Baron Capital covering food & beverage. Matt is a founding partner of Naturally New York, an organization supporting and connecting members of the local natural products community. In 2010, Matt founded Friends of Chelsea Green, a non-profit that helped fund and create a new public park in lower Manhattan. Matt lives in New York City with his wife and three children. He graduated with a B.A. from Duke University, is a CFA Charterholder and an avid birdwatcher.

• Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
• Find out more about RIND rindsnacks.com
• Follow RIND on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok

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Looking Outside is a podcast dedicated to exploring fresh perspectives of familiar business topics. The show is hosted by its creator, Joanna Lepore, consumer goods innovator and futurist at McDonald's. Find out more at looking-outside.com.

Connect with Jo and join the Looking Outside community on LinkedIn.

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All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2023.

OBOY and Midnight Daydream music features in Episode 36.