Byte'm Brownie Bites: Don't just try'em, byte'm!
- KLS
- Sep 16
- 6 min read
For the 204th feature of our "Together Talks" campaign, we collaborated with Byte'm Brownie Bites and Co-Founders, Jack Davis and Jacob Tubis. Byte’m Brownies is a bold, fast-growing startup in the CPG space. Our mission is simple: disrupt the snack world with bite-sized treats that pack a serious punch of flavor. With real ingredients and a focus on quality, Byte’m is setting a new standard for indulgence in consumer packaged goods.
"Together Talks" feature # 204: Byte'm Brownie Bites presented by KLS - Your Trusted Shipping Solutions In The USA
Can you reflect on a goal you set, achieved, and how it made you feel? Goals for upcoming year + Next phase of the company?
What have you learned since becoming an entrepreneur? What aspect of entrepreneurship do you appreciate the most? What is your why?
Do you have a moment that brings you the most joy? Share a decision that you made that was detrimental?
Story of how it was created?
Jacob and I met at American University in 2016 and graduated in 2020. After school, I went into the tech world while Jacob pursued law and also got involved in food events.
Meanwhile, my mom had an amazing brownie recipe. While working in tech, I saw firsthand how companies used data — creating customer profiles to target people, like Nike showing ads to fans of orange shoes. Later, at Upfluence, I worked with an influencer marketing platform where I saw e-commerce brands growing fast through past campaign data. That’s when I thought: why not start a food brand?
Jacob had a background in food, I had my mom’s recipe, and together we realized there was an opportunity. We never set out thinking we’d be on this journey, but one step led to another and here we are.
Our foundation is Laurel’s recipe, which ties into something deeply American. Brownies are one of the country’s most beloved desserts — right up there with apple pie and baseball. Yet, in the CPG space, many brands were trying “healthy” or “protein” approaches, but no one was offering an indulgent, convenient, and fun brownie.
So, we went back to the basics: a high-quality brownie that tastes like it came from your local bakery. We’ve built flavors like Cookies & Cream and S’mores with inclusions like Oreos, graham crackers, and marshmallows, all shelf-stable, but with the excitement and nostalgia of fresh-baked brownies.
What have been the biggest challenges?
Scaling. Our first production run was just 200 units. Now, only six or seven months later, our next run is projected at about 30,000 units — most already pre-sold.
The challenge has been scaling production while maintaining quality and lowering costs. Thankfully, we’ve had amazing partners — from our food development team to suppliers — but coordinating everything has been a lot of work.
It’s not just baking brownies; it’s managing inventory, coordinating 14–20 different ingredients, ordering packaging, and timing everything to meet demand. Personally, for me, it was also finishing law school while commuting between DC and New York. I used to crash on Jack’s couch during trips, and now we’ve finally settled into SoHo for more stability.
Logistically, being in New York City without a car has been tough. I’ve carried tables and boxes of brownies on the subway just to do samples. In this industry, a car or truck makes life so much easier. But New York also gives us unparalleled opportunities: founder events, networking, and a strong CPG community. Starting here has been challenging, but ultimately, the right decision.
Can you reflect on a goal you set, achieved, and how it made you feel?
From the beginning, we set out to make the tastiest shelf-stable brownie on the market — indulgent and delicious, while still using quality ingredients. That took tremendous work from our food development team to stay true to Laurel’s recipe.
One milestone that stands out is selling our first 10,000 units. But honestly, the first sale mattered even more. Once you sell one, you know it’s possible to get to 100, 1,000, and beyond.
There have been “pinch me” moments along the way — meeting with JP Morgan on the 42nd floor, participating in New York Fashion Week — opportunities we never envisioned when we first started.
Goals for upcoming year + Next phase of the company?
We’re focused on building brand recognition so that people who’ve never met us or tried a sample still know and love the product. That means refining packaging, expanding awareness, and creating a true brand identity.
On the retail side, our goal is to reach about 750 stores in the Northeast. Right now, we’re in 500 nationwide, with 100–200 in New York City. We want to strengthen our grassroots presence here before expanding to larger retailers.
We’re also prioritizing e-commerce. While retail has been our focus so far, online is a huge growth opportunity. We sell on Amazon and Shopify, and we’re excited to build out TikTok Shop as well. Expanding there will make us more accessible nationwide.
What were your concerns to transition to starting your own business?
Early on, we brought brownies to an event with family and friends. People tried them and immediately asked, “What store did you buy these from?” That was the moment we realized we had something special.
Every time someone tries one and loves it, it reinforces that feeling. That kind of feedback makes the leap into entrepreneurship less scary.
We’d always been interested in food. Back in college, we even experimented with protein ice cream — a bit ahead of its time, since now it’s everywhere. We never launched it fully, but it showed us we loved creating food products.
For me, working in tech was also eye-opening. I saw how many direct-to-consumer brands were succeeding online and realized it was possible to build something. With platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Shopify making it easier than ever to market and sell products, the timing felt right.
What have you learned since becoming an entrepreneur?
That there’s no guidebook. Everyone’s journey is different, and often, you just have to figure it out as you go. Sometimes it’s “fake it till you make it.”
You don’t need permission to start a company. Reach out, cold email, cold call — people are often more open to working with up-and-coming brands than you’d think.
We’ve also learned how collaborative this industry is. From our bakery partners to distributors, brokers, and even fellow founders — thousands of people have helped us bring this product to life. It’s taught us to stay humble, be transparent, and focus on making something people genuinely enjoy.
What aspect of entrepreneurship do you appreciate the most?
The risk and reward. A traditional job comes with stability, but it also limits the upside. With entrepreneurship, the risks are higher, but so are the rewards — not just financially, but in opportunities.
We’ve gotten to meet amazing people, take part in unique events, and build something we truly care about. For me, the joy is in creating — taking an idea, building it into reality, and seeing people resonate with it. That’s deeply rewarding.
What is your why?
Every time someone bites into one of our brownies and smiles, that’s the “why.” Life can be stressful, and being able to offer something comforting and nostalgic feels meaningful.
It’s also about community. Meeting other founders, seeing peers succeed, and cheering each other on energizes us. It makes the hustle feel worth it.
Do you have a moment that brings you the most joy?
Launching at Pop-Up Grocer. They have a sales dashboard, and the very first sale came from a random person we didn’t know. That moment was transformative — proof that strangers would buy our product.
Another moment was when Butterfield Market, a 100-year-old institution in New York, became one of our first accounts. They gave us a beautiful display and even had influencers posting about us. It felt incredible to have such an established retailer take a chance on us so early.
Share a decision that you made that was detrimental?
Entrepreneurship comes with ups and downs. We’ve faced hidden fees, spoiled ingredients, and last-minute setbacks. At times, we lingered too long on mistakes instead of quickly learning and moving forward.
But every setback has made us stronger and more knowledgeable. There’s no playbook — you just do your best every day. Mistakes are inevitable, but they’ve prepared us to avoid bigger pitfalls down the road.
Piece of Advice
Not to steal from Nike, but: just do it. If you’re passionate about something, take the leap. Of course, consider your circumstances — not everyone can take on that risk right away — but don’t let fear hold you back.
The hardest part is going from zero to one. Once you get that first customer, everything else starts to build. And don’t wait for permission. Reach out, make connections, and let other people say “no” — don’t say it to yourself first.
Promo Code:
Purchase off their website -> Byte'm Brownie Bites
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TogetherTalks -> 20% off
Community Callout
In Closing
KLS wants to thank Byte'm Brownie Bites and Co-Founders, Jack Davis and Jacob Tubis, for today's "Together Talks" feature. Follow along for their journey with their social handles below!
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