BUFFS raises $1.1M pre-seed for grass-fed beef puffs

What's the deal? BUFFS, a startup making grass-fed beef puffs, has closed a $1.1 million pre-seed round, co-founder George Zhou announced on LinkedIn. Co-founded by recent college grads Beckett Kitaen and George Zhou, the company sells a crunchy, puffed snack made from grass-fed beef, with 10g+ of protein and no seed oils or fillers.

Who's backing it? Investors include Hu co-founder Jordan BrownDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, The Coconut Cult chief executive Ari RazDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Kettle & Fire founder Nicholas MaresDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, alongside a roster of more than a dozen consumer operators and angels.

The signal: The round lands amid a wave of early-stage bets on protein-forward snacks, with founders from established better-for-you brands increasingly writing cheques for the next generation of food startups.

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