Startup CPG Newswire:
Unhinged Raises $1.1M Pre-Seed
PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Byron Sorrells for Unhinged
NEW YORK, NY (OCTOBER 2026) — Unhinged, a chef-crafted caffeine + protein bar, announced it has raised $1.1 million in pre-seed funding, with participation from Republic Ventures.
Unhinged brings caffeine, protein, and fiber together in a convenient format for people balancing work, workouts, and everything in between. Crafted by Culinary Institute of America-trained chef Matt Paine, each bar delivers 75mg of natural caffeine, plus 11–14g of protein and 7–8g of fiber depending on flavor.
“Unhinged won me over as a customer before it won me over as an investor. It’s genuinely delicious, and I’ve naturally worked it into different parts of my day as a morning pre-workout and an afternoon pick-me-up. Caffeine is still consumed overwhelmingly through beverages, so I think there’s something really interesting about combining it with protein and fiber in a food format that can fit into multiple consumption occasions,” said Julian Jung of Republic Ventures.
Jung also highlighted co-founder Byron Sorrells’ technical and startup background and the broader team’s combination of culinary, brand, creative, sales, and partnerships experience. “We’re excited to support Byron and the team through Republic Ventures,” Jung added.
The company recently introduced its first campaign, “The Unhinged Casting Call,” created with agency The Circle. Built around the premise that everyone unhinged enough to audition gets cast, the campaign puts real people at the center of Unhinged’s story. Its “Portraits of the Unhinged” series features films and photographs celebrating the many roles people juggle and the ways they keep going.
Unhinged is available in Chocolate + Coffee, Peanut Butter + Chocolate, and Salted Caramel at alwaysunhinged.com, Amazon, and TikTok Shop. The campaign can be viewed at casting.alwaysunhinged.com.
About Unhinged
Unhinged is a new protein + caffeine bar made for people who don’t believe in an off switch. Crafted by Head Chef Matt Paine, every bar packs 75mg of natural caffeine, about an espresso’s worth, plus 11–14g of protein and 7–8g of fiber: fuel for people going after big things, in whatever form that takes. Unhinged is available at alwaysunhinged.com and Amazon in three flavors: Chocolate + Coffee, Peanut Butter + Chocolate and Salted Caramel. The Unhinged Casting Call is the brand’s first campaign.
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