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§ Private Profile · Atlanta, GA, USA
Slutty Vegan is a technology company.
Slutty Vegan operates a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in plant-based comfort food, with a primary focus on innovative vegan burgers. The company designs its menu to replicate traditional American diner fare using exclusively plant-derived ingredients, including proprietary patties, vegan cheeses, and bacon alternatives. This approach allows them to offer a familiar yet entirely meat-free dining experience across their locations.
The company was founded in August 2018 by Aisha "Pinky" Cole. Cole launched Slutty Vegan with the insight that there was an underserved market for exciting, indulgent vegan cuisine that appealed to a broad audience, beyond just existing vegans. Her vision was to create a vibrant brand and a welcoming environment around plant-based eating.
Slutty Vegan primarily serves customers seeking convenient and flavorful plant-based options, attracting both dedicated vegans and those curious about reducing their meat consumption. The company aims to make vegan food enjoyable and accessible, fostering community engagement and demonstrating the potential for plant-based alternatives to mainstream comfort food.
Slutty Vegan has raised $25.0M across 1 funding round.
Slutty Vegan has raised $25.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Slutty Vegan is a plant-based fast-food restaurant chain specializing in vegan burgers and comfort food, founded by Pinky Cole. It serves vegan-curious consumers seeking tasty, indulgent alternatives to traditional fast food, solving the problem of limited late-night or appealing plant-based options in a fun, unapologetic brand voice.[1][5] The company has demonstrated strong early growth, hitting $4 million in revenue within six months of its first location, raising $25 million in Series A funding, and reaching a $100 million valuation with expansions to multiple U.S. cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, and Brooklyn.[1][5] Recent challenges included a brief loss of ownership in 2025 due to financial issues from rapid scaling, but founder Pinky Cole has reclaimed 100% control under "Slutty Vegan 2.0," appointing tech executive Lauren Maillian as president to drive infrastructure, digital engagement, new locations, and consumer packaged goods like the VOAGIES vegan sub concept.[2][3][4]
Slutty Vegan originated in founder Pinky Cole's two-bedroom apartment in Atlanta, where she sought to address her own craving for flavorful vegan food late at night when options were scarce.[1] Cole, a celebrated vegan chef recognized on lists like Forbes Next 1000, Entrepreneur’s Top 100 Powerful Women, and PETA’s Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities, launched the first location with a disruptive, playful brand that redefines veganism as accessible and fun, emphasizing community service and "silent protest" against stereotypes.[1][5] Early traction exploded: $4 million in revenue in six months via guerrilla marketing, leading to rapid expansion to 14 locations, $25 million in Series A funding, and a $100 million valuation by 2022-2023.[1][4][5] A pivotal setback came in 2025 when over-expansion and under-the-hood operational issues triggered a 43-day loss of ownership via debt restructuring, teaching Cole key lessons in sustainable scaling before she reacquired full control.[2][3][4]
Note: Slutty Vegan is not a technology company; while incorporating tech for operations and customer experience, it is fundamentally a vegan restaurant chain.[2][3][4]
Slutty Vegan rides the wave of plant-based food disruption intersecting with tech-enabled food brands, leveraging digital marketing, AI for operations, and scalable consumer apps to challenge traditional fast food.[1][4] Timing aligns with surging vegan demand—projected to grow amid health, sustainability trends—fueled by post-pandemic shifts to indulgent yet ethical eating, where its fun branding converts skeptics.[1] Market forces like minority-led businesses gaining VC traction (e.g., $25M Series A) and tech exec hires like Maillian (ex-digitalundivided CEO, investor in 40+ startups) position it to influence the $5B+ alt-protein ecosystem by proving Black women-led scalability.[2][3][5] It shapes broader tech-food convergence by modeling resilient growth: rapid scaling via software, crisis recovery through infrastructure tech, and ecosystem impact via community philanthropy, inspiring diverse founders in foodtech.[1][4]
Under "Slutty Vegan 2.0," expect accelerated expansion with 10+ new locations, VOAGIES rollout, CPG lines, and tech-driven customer models led by Maillian's expertise in scaling nine-figure brands.[2][3] Trends like AI personalization in dining, vegan mainstreaming, and women-led VC will propel it toward sustained $100M+ valuation, potentially via franchising or acquisitions. Its influence may evolve from viral disruptor to blueprint for resilient, tech-augmented food empires, redefining Black excellence in business while tying back to Cole's apartment-born vision of joyful, universal vegan access.[1][4]
Slutty Vegan has raised $25.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Slutty Vegan's investors include New Voices Fund, Danny Meyer, ACME Capital, Collab Capital, Jenny Fielding, Plug & Play Ventures, Reign Ventures, Serena Ventures, TechSquare Labs.
Slutty Vegan has raised $25.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $25.0M Series A in May 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2022 | $25M Series A | NEW Voices Fund, Danny Meyer | ACME Capital, Collab Capital, Jenny Fielding, Plug & Play Ventures, Reign Ventures, Serena Ventures, TechSquare Labs | Announced |