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From Kitchen Table to International Shelves: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Rebecca Brady’s Rise with Top Seedz
Starting a business in your kitchen isn’t just a storybook idea. It’s exactly how Rebecca Brady launched Top Seedz, the clean cracker company that began with handmade batches and now ships across the country, is found in major retailers, and won two of the most competitive startup competitions in the country.
Here’s what local business owners and entrepreneurs can take from Rebecca’s journey:
1. Putting Purpose First: Hiring Refugees and Giving Back
One of the most inspiring parts of Rebecca’s journey is her commitment to hiring and empowering refugees in the Buffalo area. Top Seedz partners with organizations like Journey’s End Refugee Services and International Institute of Buffalo to employ individuals who are often overlooked. She has created a company where language barriers, cultural differences, and backgrounds are embraced, not avoided.
Rebecca doesn’t just talk about purpose. She builds it into her team, her hiring process, and the way her company operates every day.
Ask yourself:
Does my business reflect my values in how I treat people, hire, and grow?
2. Getting into Big Box Stores Starts with the Right Foundation
Top Seedz didn’t land in stores like Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Erewhon by accident. Rebecca focused early on branding, packaging, and product quality so when buyers saw her products, they saw consistency and potential. Her outreach was persistent but backed with a brand that was ready to grow.
Ask yourself: If a national buyer saw my brand today, would they trust it on their shelves?
3. The Cool California Story
One of the turning points? Rebecca shared a standout moment where someone in California discovered her crackers at a New York airport, reached out, and later helped place Top Seedz on shelves in upscale California stores. That serendipitous moment wasn’t just luck. It happened because the product was great, and the brand had presence.
Ask yourself: Am I putting my product or service in places where the right people might discover it?
4. Winning Two Major Startup Competitions is No Accident
Rebecca won not just one but two competitive startup grants, including the $1 million 43North award and another earlier grant that helped her fund the first wave of growth. She applied before she felt fully ready, practiced her pitch relentlessly, and delivered it with clarity and belief in her mission.
Ask yourself: Am I taking bold shots at big opportunities or waiting until it’s too late?
5. Stay Grounded Even While Scaling
Despite going national, Rebecca remains grounded in Buffalo, still engaged with her team, and focused on building something that lasts. She’s still hands on, still learning, and still making decisions that reflect her values.
Ask yourself: Am I growing in a way that aligns with who I am, not just how fast I can go?
6. Be Willing to Say Yes and Figure It Out Later
Whether it was scaling up to meet demand, applying for a competition, or launching in new markets, Rebecca said yes first and solved the logistics later. That mindset opened doors others never dared to knock on.
Ask yourself: Am I saying no out of fear or leaning into growth and problem solving?
Final Thoughts for Business Owners
Rebecca Brady’s story isn’t just about crackers. It’s about clarity, courage, and conviction. Whether you run a food business, a service, or something completely different, her journey shows that it’s possible to scale with integrity, win big, and never lose the heart of what makes your business special.
Take a page from her playbook. Say yes. Stay mission driven. And when the right door opens, be ready to walk through it.
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✍️ Blog by David Schaub