Protein Startup Taste Test: Seven Foods, One Taste Winner

By Olivia Hart

A two-person taste test of seven venture-backed protein foods produced one clear winner: Brami Protein Pasta. Crunchbase reported that the semolina-and-lupini-bean noodle delivered about 12 grams of protein in a 200-calorie serving, 70% more protein than standard pasta and more than double the fiber.

Crunchbase framed the category around a familiar tradeoff: convenient protein can require planning, while ice cream, chips and candy bars can make carbohydrates and fat easy to overconsume.

Crunchbase’s reviewer bought the selection at a local Target. The reviewer and a 10-year-old co-taster judged the products and found most edible and drinkable, but almost never as tasty as traditional alternatives with less protein. Brami was the exception.

How strong is the nutrition case?

Crunchbase listed these nutrition claims:

• Frozen One protein ice cream: 40 grams of protein per pint.
• David Vanilla Bean Frozen Dessert: 30 grams of protein and 210 calories per pint.
• Mosh Peanut Butter Cup: 20 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber, plus creatine and lion’s mane.
• SkyPop Protein Soda: 10 grams of protein, 45 calories and 1 gram of carbohydrates per 12-ounce can.
• Khloud Protein Popcorn: 7 grams of protein and 160 calories per serving, with most calories coming from carbohydrates and fat.
• Cadootz Crackers: about 5 grams of protein per serving.
• Brami Protein Pasta: about 12 grams of protein per 200-calorie serving.

The figures support different use cases, so a straight protein ranking would mislead. Crunchbase did not disclose purchase dates, prices, a scoring rubric, or whether the tasters received blind samples. Two tasters at one store cannot establish broad consumer preference, sales performance or repeat purchasing.

Did the desserts and soda earn repeat purchases?

David Vanilla Bean Frozen Dessert packs 30 grams of protein into a pint with 210 calories. The reviewer found the texture creamy and easy to spoon, with a distinct vanilla flavor, though it fell short of traditional ice cream. Both testers found it reasonably appealing, but warned buyers who dislike artificial sweeteners or whey protein to pass; Medici Brands, David’s parent company, makes the product.

Frozen One’s protein ice cream delivered the highest protein count among the desserts: 40 grams per pint. The reviewer tried chocolate and apple pie, preferred chocolate, and found the same milk-protein-concentrate and sugar-substitute profile as David. The result did not resemble Ben and Jerry’s, but the reviewer said it could deliver a steak-like quantity of protein in ice-cream form.

SkyPop’s 12-ounce Protein Soda can had 45 calories, 10 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbohydrates. The drink was properly fizzy and produced a satisfying pop, but the local store stocked only Ice Pop flavor. The tasters called it “not horrible but not something we’d plan to buy regularly.”

The reviewer saw a role for the soda on a clear-fluid diet before some medical procedures, where it would be one of few available protein sources. SkyPop, formerly Don’t Quit, makes the soda; for this test, SkyPop offered function without repeat-purchase appeal.

Can popcorn, bars and crackers deliver function and flavor?

White Cheddar Khloud Protein Popcorn delivered 7 grams of protein and 160 calories per serving, with most calories coming from carbohydrates and fat. Crunchbase compared that with typical packaged popcorn at about 2 grams of protein in a comparable serving.

The milk-protein and whey-protein-concentrate flavors were palpable but not overwhelming. The reviewer called it a decent desk or show-watching snack, rather than something to savor; Khloud makes the popcorn.

Mosh’s Peanut Butter Cup combined 20 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, creatine and lion’s mane in a compact, shelf-stable bar. The reviewer called the formulation impressive but said the taste buds did not appreciate it, placing the product in the functional-food category rather than the pleasure category. Mosh sells the bar.

Crunchbase noted that co-founder Patrick Schwarzenegger plays a fitness and finance bro in the third season of “The White Lotus”; his character’s daily high-protein shake repels other family members. The reviewer suggested the role may have inspired Mosh, the brain-supporting startup Schwarzenegger launched with his mother, Maria Shriver.

The reviewer tried Cadootz Crackers in cheddar and sea salt varieties and felt neither enthusiasm nor repulsion. The crackers offered a nice crunch, decent flavor and about 5 grams of protein per serving while remaining free of gluten and seed oils. Cadootz! makes the crackers; the reviewer expected to skip repeat purchases without a specific dietary need. For these products, specialized attributes bought tolerance rather than excitement.

Why did the pasta win?

Brami Protein Pasta is made from semolina and lupini beans and delivered about 12 grams of protein per 200-calorie serving. That is 70% more protein than standard pasta and more than double the fiber, though the serving is not a dense protein source by itself.

The reviewer wrote, “We saved the best for last,” after comparing standard noodles with Brami and taking Brami for seconds. The pasta showed no discernible aftertaste or texture problems and could make a starchy meal reasonably protein-rich with the right topping. Brami makes the pasta. It was the only product that paired a meaningful protein increase with unequivocal taste approval.

What can this taste test establish?

Crunchbase’s result supports a narrow conclusion: most of the products were functional foods rather than compelling treats. The test covered one store, two tasters and seven products, with only one SkyPop flavor available, so it cannot establish category-wide demand or product consistency. Crunchbase also supplied no company sales, pricing or repeat-purchase data.

Crunchbase framed the broader opportunity as startups and established brands making protein easier to consume across soda, snack bars, ice cream and other familiar formats. Its linked coverage also framed venture capital’s continuing interest in protein against falling favor for fake meat.

The next commercial test is repeat purchasing after novelty fades. Brami has the clearest taste advantage, while the other six products still need evidence that shoppers value their nutrition proposition enough to buy them again.