Overview
Maya Chen is an American entrepreneur and food scientist who founded Hearthstone Foods, a Portland-based artisan snack company that partners with regenerative farms. Before launching Hearthstone in 2019, Chen spent eleven years at General Mills.[1]
Hearthstone reached $4.2 million in annual revenue by 2024 and is carried in over 800 retail locations across the Pacific Northwest.[2]
Early life and education
Chen grew up in Beaverton, Oregon, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants who ran a small import business. She attended Oregon State University, studying food science and technology, graduating in 2007.[1]
Career
General Mills (2007–2018)
After Oregon State, Chen joined General Mills as a junior food scientist. Over eleven years she rose to Senior Product Development Manager. In a 2023 interview: “I spent years making industrial food marginally better. I wanted to make something genuinely good from scratch.”[3]
Hearthstone Foods (2019–present)
Chen left General Mills in late 2018 and moved back to Portland. She launched Hearthstone in June 2019 with three granola varieties at the Portland Farmers Market. The first run was 200 bags, made by hand.[2]
By 2021, Hearthstone had secured Whole Foods placement. Chen bootstrapped for two years before raising a $1.5M seed round.[4]
Recognition
References
- From Lab to Kitchen: Maya Chen — Oregon State Alumni Magazine
- Hearthstone Foods Expands to 800 Stores — Portland Business Journal
- The Granola Maker Who Left General Mills — Eater Portland
- Hearthstone Foods Raises $1.5M Seed — TechCrunch
- 40 Under 40: Class of 2023 — Portland Business Journal