Mike Wystrach

He grew up on a ranch in southern Arizona, worked in his family’s The Steak Out restaurant in Sonoita, and participated in 4-H. He connects those experiences with his sense of responsibility and work ethic.⁠[1]

He graduated from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management in 2002 with a finance degree and subsequently worked in finance.⁠[1]

In a Moneywise interview, he recalled facing a roughly $1 million judgment after a restaurant failed and he had personally guaranteed its lease, with only $15 left in the bank. He described the experience as an important lesson before rebuilding his career.⁠[2]

His personal biography dates Freshly’s beginnings to 2012, driven by his own need for convenient, healthy meals. He developed the direct-to-consumer prepared-food business with Carter Comstock.⁠[3][4]

Nestlé’s acquisition announcement dates Freshly’s founding and service launch to 2015. Its subscription model delivered chef-prepared meals that customers could quickly heat at home.⁠[5]

Nestlé USA announced an investment in Freshly, with food-division president Jeff Hamilton joining its board. The funding supported an East Coast kitchen and distribution center as the company prepared to expand nationwide.⁠[6]

A University of Arizona profile described his emphasis on reducing food waste at Freshly and the company’s donations of surplus ingredients and meals to local food banks through its Feeding America partnership.⁠[1]

Nestlé completed its acquisition of Freshly at a stated valuation of $950 million, plus up to $550 million in contingent earnout payments. Freshly was then delivering more than one million meals weekly across 48 states, with Wystrach remaining CEO.⁠[5]

Freshly announced Anna Fabrega as CEO and Wystrach’s transition to a board-advisory role. The company described his departure as voluntary; its characterization later became disputed in litigation over acquisition earnout payments.⁠[7][8]

Petfolk identified him and his sister, veterinarian Audrey Wystrach, as co-founders and co-CEOs. It announced a $40 million Series A co-led by White Star Capital and Wystrach to develop veterinary care combining clinics with digital services.⁠[9]

Petfolk announced a $40 million Series B led by Movendo Capital and described its veterinary partner program, offering participating veterinarians shared clinic economics and company equity.⁠[10]

His official biography dates Cutting Horse’s founding to 2024. He partnered with former Freshly investor Chris Protasewich to support founders using their experience operating consumer businesses.⁠[3][11]

Petfolk announced a $36 million Series C led by Deerfield Management, with existing investors including Cutting Horse VC participating. The company described its model as combining physical clinics with round-the-clock app-based services.⁠[12]

A dispute between former Freshly shareholders’ representative SRS and Nestlé USA and Honey Buyer concerned a $550 million earnout and the nature of his departure. The Delaware Court of Chancery denied defendants’ summary-judgment motion because material factual disputes remained over whether he resigned voluntarily. The ruling did not finally award the earnout.⁠[8]

Cutting Horse announced a $75 million first fund, exceeding its $50 million target and reaching its hard cap. Co-founded by Wystrach and Chris Protasewich, the firm focuses on founder-led consumer-product and service businesses.⁠[11]

He hosts The Advantage podcast and publishes a newsletter under the same name, interviewing consumer-brand founders and operators about financing, customer acquisition, team-building and business decisions. Episodes appear on his personal YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry channel and podcast platforms.⁠[13][14]

School of Hard Knocks Podcast published an approximately 57-minute interview covering his restaurant setbacks, Freshly’s fundraising and growth, and subsequent ventures including Petfolk and Cutting Horse.⁠[15]

He advocates investment backed by practical operating experience and support. Cutting Horse’s published strategy includes $1 million to $10 million minority investments in consumer-product and service companies across health, food, pets and lifestyle categories.⁠[16]

He is married with children, and his twin brother Mark Wystrach is the lead singer of country band Midland. In interviews he emphasizes family relationships and meaningful work, saying that he does not plan to retire.⁠[2]

Personal website: https://mikewystrach.com/ (opens in a new window). X: @mikewystrach. YouTube: @MikeWystrach. LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwystrach/ (opens in a new window). His business affiliations include Freshly, Petfolk and Cutting Horse.⁠[17][13][15]