Meet Max
THE MEAT GUY
The backyard BBQ enthusiast and jerky making master
2014
Opportunities Abroad
Max and his best friend Kyle enroll in a study abroad program in Beijing, China.
A longtime jerky fanatic, Max notices a lack of quality options - and an opportunity
in the Chinese market. The MaxJerky dream began.
2015
An Entrepreneurial Start to it all
Max and Kyle continue living in China after graduating, starting a financial services company in Shanghai
with Max's brother Tommy. On the side, it's all jerky all the time.
2016
From students to masters
Max buys his first dehydrator to master the craft of jerky. Meanwhile, his passion for barbecue ignites
as he volunteers at friends’ restaurants, hosts his own pop-ups, crushes some cooking competitions, and
spends late nights perfecting jerky recipes with Kyle.
2018
Making progress and jerky
After years of refining their recipes, Max and Kyle start selling their jerky at local markets and ball games.
The packaging and branding evolve, and after finding a production facility in China, MaxJerky is set to become a reality.
2019
The Meat Tour Detour
Just weeks before the launch date, Max heads home to visit his parents after his mom develops a serious medical situation.
The pandemic hits, China closes its borders, and the MaxJerky dream seems to be crushed.
2020
Max becomes "The Meat Guy"
Unable to return to China, Max continues pursuing his passion for food. He starts filming his creations and
quickly finds success on social media. Sophia, an investment banker, quits her job to work full-time on MaxtheMeatGuy.
Jan 2022
Can't spell Team without M-e-a-t
Kyle returns to the US for grad school while restarting the MaxJerky process with Max and Sophia.
Max finds his old jerky recipe spreadsheets and starts testing recipes — this time for the US market.
2022
Building a brand
The team starts the brand from scratch, creates new recipes, and structures the business. All with the goal of
creating an authentically crafted jerky with globally inspired flavors.
Apr 2023
MaxJerky Launches
After years of work, hundreds of hours of video calls, thousands of miles traveled, and countless
iterations of recipes, MaxJerky is ready for launch.
Meet the team
Max
The Meat Guy
Max started grilling at age six, igniting a lifelong passion for barbecue. After moving to China in his twenties,
he began to master the craft of jerky while experimenting behind the grill. Today, he dedicates his time to MaxJerky
while documenting his culinary creations to millions of fans online.
Kyle
The Biz Guy
Kyle started his first business in Shanghai before discovering a passion for F&B. A graduate of Columbia Business School,
he is focused on growing the MaxJerky brand full time and leads business operations. In his free time, you can find him traveling for new cuisines
or in his own kitchen concocting kombuchas, pickles, and more.
Sophia
The Marketing Gal
Sophia’s foodie creativity began at home with her parents’ kitchen experiments. This passion eventually motivated
her to quit her NY banking job and partner with her brother, MaxTheMeatGuy, while developing her own social
brand featuring fruity creations and vibrant cocktails.
About Us
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