Rise Pies

Rise Pies is a food and beverage startup that traces its roots back to 2013, when its sister company, Chestnut Land Company of Youngstown, Ohio, marked its 20th year as a franchisee of Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels, with a strong presence of 70 stores across 15 states in the United States. Recognizing the potential for a complementary restaurant concept, the company settled on pizza as the preferred choice due to its popularity, with 93% of Americans reported to consume it at least once a month. Led by Chestnut CEO Ed Muransky and Chef Vernon Cesta, Rise Pies was established as a fusion of Youngstown's renowned pizza and the fast-casual dining trend. Drawing inspiration from the success of Italian Bistro Vernon’s Café and V2 Trattoria and Wine Bar, Rise Pies features thin Neapolitan style pizza with fresh daily crusts, diverse sauces, and over 20 toppings, including locally sourced organic produce. With a focus on the fast-casual market, where thin-crust pizza is highly sought after, Rise Pies aims to lead the limited-service pizza segment by offering an array of top-quality pizzas, salads, sandwiches, beverages, and desserts in a modern-rustic ambiance. Operating through a 600-degree WoodStone oven, the thin-crust pizzas can be prepared in a rapid 2.5 minutes, aligning with the demand for quick-service dining experiences. Having been founded in 2014, Rise Pies is strategically positioned within the thriving food and beverage industry in the United States. With a focus on quality, speed, and ambiance, it aspires to carve out a niche in the competitive fast-casual dining market, offering a potential investment opportunity for venture capitalists seeking to enter the food industry.