Meet the Founders of Crunch Co.
Meet the Founders of Crunch Co.
Crunch Co. is built by three passionate creators who came together from different corners of the freeze-drying world—each bringing their own expertise, experience, and drive to make freeze-drying simpler, smarter, and way more enjoyable.
Austin — Founder & Product Innovator
Austin is the original founder of Crunch Co.—he launched it in 2021 as a side hustle while working as an aircraft mechanic. As a longtime freeze-drying enthusiast, Austin saw firsthand the lack of well-designed, purpose-built accessories for the process. Most tools didn’t fit, didn’t last, or just didn’t make sense. With a background in design, fabrication, and a love for hands-on problem solving, he started building the solutions he couldn’t find.
When he’s not working or freeze-drying, you’ll probably find Austin spending time with his wife—exploring in the mountains, fishing, flying, rock climbing, or kitesurfing. In 2025, Austin officially partnered with Brandon and David to grow Crunch Co. into something much bigger—together.
Brandon — Co-Owner & Content Creator
Brandon is a co-owner of Crunch Co. and the creator behind a massive library of freeze-drying content with Whitepepper Farms that’s educated (and entertained) millions. What started with superhot peppers from his backyard garden quickly turned into a full-blown obsession with freeze drying just about everything—the useful, the weird, and the downright questionable.
He’s tested hundreds of foods, built an audience of over a million across platforms, and is known for mixing real freeze-drying knowledge with humor, experimentation, and family life. At Crunch Co., Brandon brings the voice of the everyday user, someone who’s tried it all and isn’t afraid to say what worked and what didn’t.
When he’s not filming experiments or building up the freeze-drying community, he’s probably in the garden, chasing his kids, spending time with his wife, or talking about social media to anyone who will listen.
David — Co-Owner & Industry Connector
David is a co-owner of Crunch Co. and a leading voice in the freeze-drying business world. What began as a side hustle during the uncertainty of 2020 quickly grew into a thriving family-run venture, Freeze Dried Depot, known for high-quality, fun, and health-focused snacks. Alongside his wife Kellie and their two kids in Boise, Idaho, David turned freeze-drying into a lifestyle—and a mission.
As he navigated regulations, scaled production, and transitioned from garage to commercial kitchen, he discovered just how under-resourced the industry was. So he created Freeze Dried Business, a YouTube channel and online platform dedicated to helping others build sustainable, profitable freeze-dried businesses. Then, he took it a step further by launching the Freeze Dried Summit, the first-ever industry conference designed to connect creators, experts, and B2B partners.
At Crunch Co., David brings strategic vision, real-world experience, and a deep commitment to growing the freeze-drying ecosystem. His work bridges the gap between solo operators and the broader industry—arming the community with tools, insight, and connection.
Together, we’re building Crunch Co. with a simple goal: to listen to the community, solve the problems real users face, and design tools that make freeze-drying better—for everyone.