Get out of Munich and head for the mountains. And to keep your energy levels up, the Munich startup Summit pulse developed a healthy snack that fits easily into any bag.
Who are you and what do you do?
We, Andreas (29, industrial engineer), Sarah (29, PhD in financial mathematics), and Thomas (56, tax consultant), are the founders of Gipfelpuls. We are active athletes, enjoy the outdoors, and are all true foodies. So, after numerous bad buys and disappointments with various snacks, the idea was born to create something that covers all the needs of the three of us:
- Power during sports,
- a healthy and tasty snack for in between meals and
- Rich brain food for work.
In most cases, all the benefits are never combined. The key to this was to use high-quality nuts, kernels, and seeds as the basis of the snack, rather than just a small portion as garnish.
Whether for the heart, blood pressure, or brain: All nuts offer different, beneficial properties for the body. They are nutritious, provide energy, and, despite their high calorie density, are proven not to make you fat. In Germany, people consume just 3 grams of nuts instead of the recommended 20 to 25 grams. We believe this is because nut mixes are often boring and, due to the lack of a compact form, uncomfortable to eat. Our Gipfelpuls Nut Balls are round, compact, and, thanks to a combination of the base with dried fruit and spices, also a taste highlight.
Few but high-quality ingredients
But that's been around for a long time, hasn't it?
Not at all. If you look at the alternatives on the market that advertise nuts on their products, you'll usually only find products that are date- or oat-based and contain only a minimal amount of nuts.
Dates have a very distinctive, intense flavor and are very sweet. Using dates as a base also requires a mushy consistency. This isn't everyone's cup of tea and has nothing to do with a good nut snack.
There are also a few genuine nut bars on the market. We were initially excited to discover them, but when we finally tried them, we unfortunately discovered that there was nothing left of the natural nutty flavor, as the binding agent that holds the ingredients together had simply become sweet.
Thanks to a special machine, we are able to produce our nut balls with up to 70 percent less binding agent, while still achieving a pleasantly soft chew. We also use rice syrup as a binding agent, as it is made from 100 percent glucose. Unlike honey or agave syrup, this is not broken down by the liver but by the blood, making it the fastest and most effective way for the body to convert it into energy.
Gipfelpuls nut balls are made from just a few high-quality ingredients, are free from oats and dates, and their compact spherical shape makes them perfect for portioning and sharing with friends — if you want to give some away.
Biggest challenge: increasing awareness
What has been your biggest challenge so far?
A major challenge was initially setting up our own factory with all the guidelines and certifications necessary to manufacture the products the way we envisioned them. Now, the biggest challenge is to increase awareness and assert ourselves as an honest and healthy alternative against the big players. The market is constantly changing—people are becoming more conscious and sustainable and, accordingly, want products that meet their own expectations—without falling for fake packaging. We believe we can offer exactly that.
Let’s get to the point: How is business going?
When we launched in November, we were amazed at how well our product did thanks to the Christmas season. 1,500 packs were sold in one week, and we could barely keep up with production. Now the production processes are running smoothly, and we've hired a production employee, so we can focus on further expanding sales.
What does Munich mean to you?
For us, Munich represents diversity, opportunity, and energy. All three of us originally come from the Eifel region. It's beautiful there, no question. Nevertheless, we were looking for a vibrant metropolis—a perfect fit for our philosophy. Plus, the proximity to the mountains is a huge plus..
“F*** off Unicorn”
How can your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
F*** off Unicorn. That's not what we're about. We believe that anyone who works hard will be successful in the long run. We're proud to have created something and to be able to offer a high-quality alternative to the often poor products of the big players. When we walk through town and see our products in your hands, our hearts swell and we know that our hard work was worth it.
What is your local mountain?
We don't have a single local mountain. As "new" Munich residents, we enjoy exploring all the mountains in the area and always discovering something new.
