Davis Freeman grew up on popcorn. It was his focus snack while studying and go-to fuel when he started marathon training. Light, crunchy, the right carb count.
Almost perfect. Except every bag he bought came with seed oils, additives, and no real protein. So Davis stopped buying the same popcorn we’ve been eating for centuries, cleared off his kitchen counter, and started making his own.
00:13 - The mind behind Bunky
03:04 - From label to launch
02:52 - A co-man is critical
04:55 - Bring on the flavors
6:41 - Start poppin’ like it’s corn
Start with something you actually use. Davis didn’t go looking for an idea. It was sitting in his pantry. Popcorn was something he ate constantly, so he knew exactly what was missing. Improve something you actually use, instead of inventing something you don’t.
Learn by making (and making mistakes). “I started as a mad scientist in the kitchen at home, making a mess everywhere,” says Davis. “My roommates thought I was utterly insane.” You don’t forecast your way to product–market fit. You find it by making, testing, and adjusting in public.
Taste first, everything else second. Bunky was never about packing in the most protein. It was about popcorn people want to eat. “If it doesn’t taste great, you’ll have a tough time selling it,” says Davis. That meant unique flavors (Sriracha Lime and Aged White Cheddar) and dialing back the protein to keep that satisfying popcorn crunch.
Relationships before reach. Bunky’s first buyers came from Davis showing up at gyms, cafés, and fitness studios around LA. “We’ll potentially do a run club, maybe some beach days,”he says. “I’ve built friendships in this space and hoping that the Bunky brand will become an all encompassing family.”
Build a brand that feels like you. Bunky doesn’t pretend to be a serious, high-performance brand. It’s playful, joyful, fun… because Davis is too. The messaging and brand (Bunky is Davis’ nickname!) all feel like a person made it.
Market signal → “Healthy” isn’t enough anymore. What makes people stop is flavor, with varieties of mango chili, za’atar, and truffle parmesan are taking over snack shelves.
The local launch map
If a product can build community in one ZIP code, it can scale it anywhere.
Step 1: Discovery → List 20 local spots where your audience hangs out (fitness studios, coffee shops, markets), rank by foot traffic and vibe alignment.
Step 2: Outreach → Offer to drop samples, offer a no-commitment wholesale test, or co-host small tastings
Step 3: Measure → Track sampling engagement (% of people who try) and sell-through rate (if they retail it)
Step 4: Traction → Revisit the top 5 with best feedback and explore partnerships. Offer exclusives, limited batch flavors, social features, etc.
