# Sun & Swell

Pioneering the movement away from single-use plastic in the food industry

## Elevator pitch
We are an online, plastic-free health food store. We sell healthy shelf-stable foods that you would put in your pantry (like nuts, baking flours, superfoods) in plastic-free packaging (compostable bags or glass jars).

- Canonical URL: https://wefunder.com/sunandswell
- Entity ID: wefunder:company:31837
- Last updated: 2026-06-19T05:00:11Z
- Generated at: 2026-06-20T02:59:36Z

## Quick facts
- On pace for $2.5M+ in annual sales (not guaranteed)
- WeFunder Alumni: Formerly raised ~$700K from 350+ Investors in record time
- Wholesale customers include Fortune 100 corporate offices, global hotel chains, and more
- Investors & Advisors from industry leaders like Laird Superfood, HUMM Kombucha, P&G, & North Face
- Founder is Harvard MBA, Tory Burch Fellow, PepsiCo WomanMade Winner, Pegasus Tech Accelerator Grad
- 1st to market, proprietary plastic free manufacturing line & supply chain
- Opportunity to make a massive impact, $100B+ Market
- Mission Driven: Certified B-Corp, 1% for the Planet, industry leader in sustainable packaging

## Active fundraises
- wefunder:fundraise:56454: 4(a)(6) successful (USD)
- wefunder:fundraise:56455: 4(a)(6) successful (USD)
- wefunder:fundraise:22586: 4(a)(6) successful (USD)

## Story
Our planet is drowning in single-use plastic, and the packaged food industry is largely to blame.By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. One of the largest contributors to this problem? The packaged food industry. Walk into any grocery store, and the aisles are lined with food packaged in plastic wrappers that are to be used once, then tossed into landfill. We’re changing that with the nation’s first brand and online marketplace to offer packaged foods without plastic. Sun & Swell is the first company in the nation to offer a wide assortment of snacks and pantry staples in plant-based, compostable packaging online and through wholesale channels. Today, we offer an assortment of ~35 products, with plans to double that by Q1 2024.All of our products are also delicious, healthy, and convenient - making it easy for the everyday person to transition to a plastic-free pantry... not just the extreme environmentalist.For consumers and businesses looking to make sustainable swaps when it comes to food, we fill a clear whitespace.Our vision is to be a one-stop-shop for consumers and businesses looking to buy groceries plastic-free.To date, we’ve focused on offering an assortment of our own branded snacks and pantry staples. However, we also plan to open up our plastic-free supply chain to other brands via private labeling and/or co-branding. Our ultimate vision is to be like The Grove Collaborative, but for food. The Grove Collaborative ($300M+ revenue) is a leader in eco-friendly home goods that is an online retailer, but also drives brand awareness and accessibility through wholesale partnerships. We also draw inspiration from Trader Joe’s and Costco - as their primary focus is their own brand, but they supplement it with unique SKUs created by their brand partners.We’ve built a unique supply chain that works with plastic, instead of against it.  The packaged food industry has run of plastic for the last 60+ years - and trying to change that isn’t easy. Supply chains are built on plastic; machinery is calibrated for plastic; manufacturing teams are trained to work with plastic; shelf-life requirements depend on plastic. We’ve spent over 3 years learning how, and investing in, building and scaling a food company using plant-based, compostable materials rather than plastic. Our product assortment, supply chain and distribution channels have all been uniquely designed to work with plastic-free packaging, instead of against it. We sell our products online and through 250+ foodservice outlets like offices, hotels, and coffee shops.We sell online directly to consumers looking to stock their pantries plastic-free, and also to businesses that are looking to offer healthy, sustainable foods to their employees/guests/customers. Our B2B partners include Corporate Offices (e.g., Google, LinkedIn), hotels (e.g., Ritz Carlton), coffee shops, and more. Our B2B partners not only drive sales, but also help drive awareness for our brand.We have had over 50% CAGR for the last 2 years. This year we're on pace for >100% growth.Our dedication to sustainability has not only resonated with consumers and businesses but has also driven impressive growth and financial success.Our traction showcases not only the viability of our business model but also the enormous potential for positive environmental impact. Note: Above graph shows projections only for 2023-2026. Revenue is not guaranteed.Your investment will help us scale and bring new sustainable products to market.In 2021, we launched our first community round on Wefunder, and during this time raised nearly ~$700k in record time from ~400 Wefunder investors. We’re excited to be offering the opportunity for our customers and fans to join us as investors, one last time.With new investment, we will be able to 1) fund the working capital and team needed to hit our growth goals, 2) continue to innovate and launch new products, and 3) pilot additional revenue streams (e.g., pilot label) that help moving the industry forward in an even bigger way.Together, we can create a more sustainable future.The world cannot sustain the continued use of destructive single-use plastic packaging. Snack food companies are amongst the biggest contributors to single-use plastic waste, and the time for action is now. We owe it to ourselves and our children to do and be better.We invite you to join our mission and be a part of the plastic-free revolution. By investing in our equity crowdfunding campaign, you have the opportunity to contribute to a sustainable future and drive meaningful change in the snacking industry. Together, we can create a world where snacking is still delicious and convenient - and ALSO plastic-free - improving the health of our planet for generations to come.

## FAQ
1. **Can I invest through my self-directed solo 401K?**
   - Hi Zi! To use your 401k funds, you would need to go through Alto IRA. If you can move funds from your 401K to an Alto IRA, you can use them on this platform. Website is below - let me know if you want me to connect you with someone at Wefunder and/or Alto Ira for more info! https://www.altoira.com - Kate
2. **Is this just a donation or is there a ROI? Sorry if I missed that! I love what you do and would love to support! :)**
   - Hi Megan! This is an investment, not a donation :) You can think of investing here kind of like investing in a company in the stock market. If you invest, and our company does well, ultimately you can get a return on your investment (and potentially a big return!). Of course, just like investing in a public company on the stock market, there's always risk with investing, and we can't guarantee an ROI. Investing in a company that's early stage like ours is a higher risk than some other types o...
3. **If the business succeeds and meet the goal, investors will have future shares?**
   - Hi Catherine! Correct, your shares will convert when we do a priced fundraising round, which we plan to do in 12-18 months. Your investment would convert to shares at that time.
4. **How long does it take your bags to compost in the real world? I've had difficulty getting supposedly compostable bags to biodegrade in my compost. I find them several years later still intact.**
   - Hi Heather! Great question. In an industrial compost, our bags will decompose within 90 days. If you live in an area that has industrial composting, we recommend you call ahead first, as some industrial compost facilities don't take anything other than food scraps, etc. However, it sounds like you are interested in home composting! Our packaging is approved for home composting, however, we cannot guarantee a timeline as everyone’s home compost has varying degrees of humidity, heat, and presen...
5. **Do you manufacture the compostable bags or are you buying them from a supplier?**
   - Hi James! We don't manufacturer the bags, we partner with a handful of suppliers for that.

## Team
- Kate Flynn (Co-founder & CEO)
- Bryan Flynn (Co-founder & Head of Sales)
- Kristen Klein (Director of Operations & Sustainability)
- Scott McGuire (Operations Advisor & Investor)
- Jennifer David (Marketing Advisor & Investor)
- Jeanne Cloutier (Sustainable Packaging Advisor)
- Zach Ellis (Director of Sales)
- Jay Ellis (Advisor and Investor)
- Don Blumenthal (Advisor & Investor)
- Dan Goldman (Advisor & Investor)
- Al Doan (Advisor & Investor)
- Mary Sheehan (Advisor & Investor)

## Q&A
- Q: We love your products and mission. Can you provide some current financial statements and projections. Best of luck!
  - A: Hi Mitchell! Thanks for reaching out! All of the financial information up through the end of 2022 is in the "details" section of the Wefunder profile (https://wefunder.com/sunandswell/details). It has some more recent numbers as well. There is a small discussion on projections on the our profile as well towards the bottom of the page (https://wefunder.com/sunandswell). Let me know if that is enough to answer your questions. If not, just let me know what else you're looking for and we can assist. You can email bryan@sunandswellfoods.com if you'd like and we can communicate that way if that's easier and even set up a call if you'd like. Thank you for your interest in becoming an investor in Sun & Swell and I sincerely hope we can officially welcome you as an investor soon! -Bryan (Cofounder)
- Q: Hey Kate! While I understand the United States does not have a home compostability standard, does your packaging meet the home compostability standards of countries that have enacted home compostability standards (e.g. Australia, France)? I assume the answer is yes, but I figured I'd ask. Thanks so much!
  - A: Hi Nick! You are right that the home compostability standards in the US are tricky. While we know our packaging breaks down in home compost (eg it breaks down in 5 hours in our Lomi countertop composter!), the packaging is not certified home compostable and thus, we don't promote it as such. The ultimate goal is to be using 100% certified home compostable packaging at some point though!
- Q: If one has already invested, are we able to invest additional funds?
  - A: Hi Kelly! Thanks so much for your interest in investing additional funds! To increase your investment amount: Go to your investor portfolio (wefunder.com/portfolio). There you will find the "Edit Amount" button next to your Sun & Swell investment. You should input the new total amount you'd like invested (not the additional amount).
- Q: When are you closing this funding round?
  - A: Hi Alyssa! Our plan is to close the round by April 30th.
- Q: Do you manufacture the compostable bags or are you buying them from a supplier?
  - A: Hi James! We don't manufacturer the bags, we partner with a handful of suppliers for that.
- Q: How long does it take your bags to compost in the real world? I've had difficulty getting supposedly compostable bags to biodegrade in my compost. I find them several years later still intact.
  - A: Hi Heather! Great question. In an industrial compost, our bags will decompose within 90 days. If you live in an area that has industrial composting, we recommend you call ahead first, as some industrial compost facilities don't take anything other than food scraps, etc. However, it sounds like you are interested in home composting! Our packaging is approved for home composting, however, we cannot guarantee a timeline as everyone’s home compost has varying degrees of humidity, heat, and presence of bacteria/microorganisms. If composting at home, we always recommend cutting bags up into tiny pieces (or sticking them in a paper shredder if you have one) to help them break down fastest. We've had success composting our bags in under 3 months in a home compost with ideal conditions. Last fall, we launched a 'Send-Back Program' for our bags, so we can compost bags for people who don't have access to a good home compost or an industrial compost. With our send-back program, we take bag used bags and compost for you. We have a home compost 'expert' on our team, so if you'd like to be connect with any specific questions, please let me know!
- Q: If the business succeeds and meet the goal, investors will have future shares?
  - A: Hi Catherine! Correct, your shares will convert when we do a priced fundraising round, which we plan to do in 12-18 months. Your investment would convert to shares at that time.
- Q: Is this just a donation or is there a ROI? Sorry if I missed that! I love what you do and would love to support! :)
  - A: Hi Megan! This is an investment, not a donation :) You can think of investing here kind of like investing in a company in the stock market. If you invest, and our company does well, ultimately you can get a return on your investment (and potentially a big return!). Of course, just like investing in a public company on the stock market, there's always risk with investing, and we can't guarantee an ROI. Investing in a company that's early stage like ours is a higher risk than some other types of investing, but also potential for much higher reward! Let me know if you have any other questions! - Kate
- Q: Can I invest through my self-directed solo 401K?
  - A: Hi Zi! To use your 401k funds, you would need to go through Alto IRA. If you can move funds from your 401K to an Alto IRA, you can use them on this platform. Website is below - let me know if you want me to connect you with someone at Wefunder and/or Alto Ira for more info! https://www.altoira.com - Kate
- Q: Do you think you may consider reopening this crowdfunding campaign? I am just learning about your company and am bummed that I missed out. No worries if not. Thanks.
  - A: Hi Medvis - Thank you for your interest in Sun & Swell. We've had quite a few people ask this question so we're checking to see if we can open it for one more day. If you send an email to bryan@sunandswellfoods.com I can help you figure it out.
- Q: Hi there, I'm impressed that the packaging of your products are 100% plastic free, an extremely difficult task. One question I have is around your "return mailer" program. Why have consumers send back the bag and cause more emissions from travel of the bags? I'd assume the only way you accept such mailers is if the 40 bag limit is reached to ensure there is a net-positive impact on proper composting of the bags instead of landfilling the end-of-life for the bags. Second, do you have plans to communicate alternative forms of at-home composting to your customers?
- Q: hi, I invested an amount about 10 days ago and I still see the funds on my account.....I have added all the info required so I wonder if this is the time it takes or have I made a mistake on anything? could you tell me the average time for the funds to move?
  - A: Hi George! I'm going to reach out to our Wefunder account manager to get an update for you on this. I'll send you a follow up via email as soon as I hear back!
- Q: Hi! What materials are your compostable bags made from?
  - A: Hi Aleah! We work with a variety of different suppliers, all of which use different plant-based materials. The current bags we're using are made out of wood pulp.
- Q: how do i invest
  - A: Hi Rena! Our current round is closed, but please keep following along as we will make sure to post an update here next time we raise!
- Q: Hi Kate--two questions: (1) in what type of packaging is your product shipped to customers? (2) Is this round of funding closed or is there still a way to get in?
  - A: Hi Carrie! 1) Our products are packaged in compostable bags (or reusable glass jars), and then we ship them in plastic-free shipping materials to customers. 2) Unfortunately this round is closed, but please keep following along so you'll be the first time to know next time we raise capital!