Embrace the imperfect entrepreneurial journey as we delve into tales of triumphs and missteps, where startup leaders not only share their victories but openly discuss their pitfalls. Next in our Founders Forum series, we’ll hear from Patrick Mateer. Mateer is the Founder and CEO of Seal the Seasons, the first consumer packaged goods brand to utilize a distributed supply chain model to bring Americans “locally grown, locally frozen and locally sold produce.”

Founded in his dorm room at UNC Chapel Hill, Patrick has grown the business to serve 30 states and approximately 4,000 retail locations. Patrick sees Seal the Seasons as a tool to empower farmers in rural, economically depressed communities.