VCs dip into Little Sesame with $8.5M series A to fuel hummus expansion and 400% production growth

Every hummus brand wants to stand out, but few have turned pita dipping into a full-blown growth story like food startup Little Sesame. What began as a small restaurant in Washington, D.C. has grown into one of the fastest movers in the natural food space—and now, venture capital firms are dipping into Little Sesame with millions in funding to fuel the next phase.

Little Sesame just closed an $8.5 million Series A round to scale its grocery line and bring more of its organic, freshly spun hummus to stores nationwide. The round was led by InvestEco Capital, with backing from Watchfire Ventures, Santatera Capital, Beliade Consumer Partners, and a group of consumer industry insiders.

Little Sesame Scores $8.5M Series A as Investors Dip Into Fast-Growing Hummus Brand

The story of Little Sesame goes back to 2018, when co-founders Nick Wiseman and Ronen Tenne first introduced hummus on the menu at their Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. When COVID hit and customers started grabbing the dip to go, the pair saw a new path forward—straight onto retail shelves.

Now their grocery business is surging, with year-over-year growth topping 100% and Little Sesame contributing nearly half of the hummus category’s growth at Whole Foods Market. In 2024 alone, the brand entered over 1,000 new stores, including Sprouts, Wegmans, Giant Food, and Misfits Market.

This fresh capital is all about building on that momentum. The company plans to open a new 23,000-square-foot manufacturing facility by the end of 2025, complete with a test kitchen and High-Pressure Processing equipment. The move is expected to boost production capacity by 400%, bringing output to 400,000 pounds of hummus per week.

That scale-up isn’t just about volume—it also supports the company’s commitment to sourcing organic, regeneratively grown chickpeas from American farmers. Little Sesame is working with its partners to transition 10,000 acres to regenerative management by 2027.

Product innovation is also part of the playbook. The team is investing in new offerings like its Hummus for Kids line and other snackable options as it aims to grab more share of the better-for-you food market.

“This Series A funding marks a pivotal moment in our journey,” said Nick Wiseman, CEO and co-founder. “We’ve always believed in the power of hummus to connect people and bring joy to everyday eating. With this investment, we’ll be able to amplify that mission through expanded innovation, team growth, and a new world-class facility that brings our culinary vision to life at scale.”

For investors, the appeal is clear: a fast-scaling CPG brand with loyal fans, strong retail traction, and a product that actually tastes good.

“Little Sesame continues to exceed expectations with impressive growth, a rapidly expanding retail footprint, and a deeply loyal customer base,” said Alejandro Gonzalez, Managing Partner at Santatera Capital. “We’re proud to reinforce our commitment through this second investment, supporting Nick and Ronen’s vision to build a category-defining brand rooted in real, flavorful food that’s better for people and the planet.”

The funding comes as Little Sesame rolls out its Summer of Hummus tour—a cross-country campaign built around community, food, and what the team calls “sunny vibes.”

From a pop-up in a 500-square-foot basement to nearly 3,000 retail doors nationwide, Little Sesame is proving that hummus isn’t just a side dish—it’s the main event.