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“Helped create over $5 billion in enterprise value over the years and have raised more than $300 million for companies they founded.”
“Behind the curtain with Petfolk founder Mike Wystrach — the challenges, the naivety, and the operational efficiency it takes to disrupt markets.”
“Drawing from two decades of building and scaling operating-intensive businesses.”
“Petfolk is redefining what connected, compassionate, tech-forward pet care looks like — Pet Solution of the Year.”
Biography
Short Bio (50 words)
Mike Wystrach is co-founder of Cutting Horse, a $75M growth equity firm partnered with founder-led consumer brands. He's helped create $5B+ in enterprise value — including Freshly, which he founded, scaled to $550M peak annualized revenue, and sold to Nestlé for $1.5B. He also co-founded Petfolk and hosts The Advantage.
Full Bio (300 words)
Mike Wystrach is a serial founder, operator, and investor building and backing consumer-focused companies. He grew up on a ranch in southern Arizona, where his parents ran the family steakhouse for nearly four decades — an upbringing that shaped his operating instincts and his belief that real businesses are built with real work.
Today, Mike is co-founder of Cutting Horse, a growth-equity firm built with longtime collaborator Chris Protasewich. Together they’ve helped create over $5B in enterprise value and raised more than $300M for companies they founded. Cutting Horse closed its $75M Fund I in February 2026 (oversubscribed) and partners with founder-led consumer brands across food, health, pet, and consumer services — including Feel Goods, SuperTeeth, BetterWild, Cassi, and Ripi.
Mike's operating track record anchors the firm. In 2012, he founded Freshly, raised $107M, scaled to 2,500 employees and $550M in peak annualized revenue shipping 1M+ meals a week across all 48 states, and sold the company to Nestlé for $1.5 billion in October 2020. He also co-founded Petfolk with his sister Dr. Audrey Wystrach — modern veterinary care across 40+ centers in 8 states, recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s best veterinary hospitals.
Mike is a Fortune contributor and hosts The Advantage, a podcast and weekly newsletter for founders and operators who've actually built something.
Quick Facts
- Name
- Michael "Mike" Wystrach
- Current Role
- Co-founder, Cutting Horse & Petfolk
- Known For
- Freshly ($1.5B exit to Nestlé)
- Podcast
- The Advantage
- Writing
- Fortune contributor
Key Numbers
$5B+
Enterprise value created
$300M+
Raised for companies founded
$1.5B
Freshly exit to Nestlé · 2020
$550M
Freshly peak annualized revenue
$75M
Cutting Horse Fund I · oversubscribed
Newsweek
Best Veterinary Hospital — Petfolk
3×
Featured in Forbes
Awards & Recognition
$75M Fund I, Oversubscribed
Cutting Horse
Closed Fund I in Feb 2026, partnering with founder-led consumer brands across food, health, pet, and services
#2 Global Most Loved Workplace
Newsweek
Petfolk ranked #2 worldwide on Newsweek's 2025 Global Most Loved Workplaces list
America's Most Loved Workplaces
Newsweek
Petfolk recognized on Newsweek's 2024 America's Most Loved Workplaces list
Pet Solution of the Year
Pet Innovation Awards
Petfolk recognized as the industry-leading pet care solution
$1.5B Exit to Nestlé
Freshly
Freshly acquired by Nestlé on October 30, 2020
America's Best Startup Employers
Forbes
Freshly included on Forbes' 2020 list of America's Best Startup Employers
Technology Fast 500
Deloitte
Freshly named to Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 — fastest-growing tech companies in North America
Entrepreneur Of The Year Finalist
EY
Mike named a finalist for EY's Entrepreneur Of The Year program for building Freshly
Fortune Contributor
Fortune
Commentary on AI, leadership, and scaling operating-intensive businesses
eTail Boston Speaker
Worldwide Business Research
Keynote on disrupting the $1.3T food industry
Featured In
Writing & Press
Swipe or drag to browse · click any story to read
The real promise of AI isn't fewer jobs, it's cheaper thinking
Bankrupt Restaurant to $1.5 Billion Company in 7 Years
Petfolk: Building the Future From Our Past
Petfolk Announces $40M in Series A Funding to Revolutionize Veterinary Care
Charlotte-based Petfolk raises $35 million from investors
On Raising Over $100M To Deliver Chef-Cooked Meals To Your Door
Freshly's Founder Ditched Wall Street to Start a Restaurant in Arizona. It Failed, But He Built a $1.5B Business.
The Freshly Reveal: Healthy Meals By Top Chefs
Nestlé acquires healthy meal startup Freshly for up to $1.5B
Dinner, Anyone? The Freshly Story
This Startup Just Proved the Meal-Delivery Business Hasn't Spoiled Yet
Freshly Cooks Up $21 Million
Recent Press
The real promise of AI isn't fewer jobs, it's cheaper thinking
Chris & Mike ($1.5B Exit) Backing Bootstrapped Brand Founders
E113: £500M Exit — Behind The Curtain With Petfolk Founder Mike Wystrach
The trials and triumphs of entrepreneurship, with host Dan Maccarone
Petfolk named "Pet Solution of the Year" 2023
Petfolk Announces $40M in Series A Funding
Freshly's Founder Ditched Wall Street to Start a Restaurant in Arizona. It Failed, But He Built a $1.5B Business.
The Freshly Reveal: Healthy Meals By Top Chefs
Bankrupt Restaurant to $1.5 Billion Company in 7 Years
Nestlé acquires healthy meal startup Freshly for up to $1.5B
Dinner, Anyone? The Freshly Story
Freshly and Nestlé donate $500K to Meals on Wheels (Squawk Box)
This Startup Just Proved the Meal-Delivery Business Hasn't Spoiled Yet
Freshly Cooks Up $21 Million
Dinner disruptor taking meal market by storm: CEO
Speaking Topics
Building & Scaling Without Compromising Culture
Leadership in High-Growth Companies
The Founder’s Journey: Wins, Losses, and What Matters
Building for Acquisition vs. Building for Impact