Founder Spotlight: Selina Cuch (Plonty)

Meet Selina Cuch

Company:

Plonty

Better for you plant-based protein made with clean ingredients.

Location:

New Jersey, USA

When did you launch the business?

Pre-launch

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Startup Stage?

Pre-seed

What led you to where you are today?

It's been a crazy ride, What started as a solution for myself (when I couldn't find any vegan protein that agreed with my stomach and had clean ingredients I started grinding up hemp hearts and adding them to my smoothies) morphed into something much larger then myself, I am extremely motivated to help change the landscape of the food industry and make clean plant based options mainstream.

What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?

1. Confidence matters more than perfection. Start with what you have and where you are; progress comes from doing, not overthinking.

2. People won’t always understand your vision, and that’s okay. It’s YOUR vision, not theirs. Your job is to simplify it and communicate it clearly so others can catch up.

3. Purpose will carry you when motivation fades. Stay aligned with who you are, and keep your purpose and mission at the forefront; that’s what will keep you pushing forward. My mission is to make better-for-you, plant-based options accessible, mainstream, and easy for everyone to choose. When you lead with purpose, the path becomes clearer, and the work becomes unstoppable.

What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?

Changing our name from Hempy to Plonty, I was so used to Hempy. But the moment I made the decision, I knew it was the right one. Plonty Protein is made from hemp protein, which I believe is one of the most nutrient-rich superfoods out there, a true "hidden gem" often mistakenly linked to marijuana, even though it contains no CBD or THC. Shifting to the name Plonty unlocked a bigger vision: a plant-based brand house, similar to what Simple Mills created in their category. Plonty Protein is just the first product, the beginning of something much larger. We’re only getting started!

What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?

Collaboration is everything. I’m always looking to partner with and promote other clean, plant-based products I genuinely believe in. This journey is about building community, not competition.

How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?

Talk to me, I’m always open to feedback and growth. Try my product, and if you love it, share it with a friend. It truly takes a village to build something meaningful, and I’m grateful for every person who’s part of this journey and would love for more to join.

Fun fact about you:

I love to experiment in the kitchen; I’m the person who cooks with no recipe. I create, explore, and fine-tune as I go, and it’s the one place where I can really just zone out and get into my flow completely.