Get All Access for $5/mo

4 Success Lessons From the Brothers Who Made Chickpea Pasta Mainstream These are the values that Banza co-founders (and brothers) Scott and Brian Rudolph instilled as they scaled.

By Robert Tuchman Edited by Jessica Thomas

Key Takeaways

  • It's more fun to build a business if you're passionate about the mission.
  • Facing challenges with long-term optimism and real-time realism will lead to longevity.
  • Focus on hiring the best people from the beginning, and you will continue to attract top talent.
  • Invest time in building a reliable network of people you admire and trust.

This week on How Success Happens, I spoke with Brian and Scott Rudolph, brothers and co-founders of Banza. The business was born out of a gluten sensitivity, and 10 years later, it's expanded from chickpea pasta to foods including pizza, mac and cheese and more.

You can listen to my whole conversation with Brian and Scott above, and I've pulled out four key takeaways.

Related: 7 Challenges Successful People Overcome

It's more fun to build a business if you're passionate about the mission

Before Banza, Brian considered starting a tech company. He floated the idea by a friend, who asked him a simple question: "If you knew you had to work on it for the next 10 years, would you still do it?"

This made him realize he wasn't super passionate about it. Around the same time, Brian learned he had gluten sensitivity and was determined to make pasta that he could eat. He soon discovered a pasta made from chickpeas didn't exist. People were excited about the idea, but his personal need and passion for the product helped it evolve into a business idea he was excited about. He soon convinced his brother, Scott, to leave his job in finance to help him launch Banza. Ten years later, it's expanded into other comfort food categories like pizza, mac and cheese and waffles.

Related: What Taylor Swift, Mark Cuban and Michael Jordan Can Teach Us About Embracing Failure

Facing challenges with long-term optimism and real-time realism will lead to longevity

Despite many early challenges with production and commercialization, Brian and Scott maintained their confidence in the massive opportunity they had to create staple foods for families. They believed that people would choose a nutritionally superior, great-tasting version of pasta over conventional alternatives.

Related: The Real Secret to Success Isn't Really a Secret

Focus on hiring the best people from the beginning, and you will continue to attract top talent

Brian and Scott believe your first hires are some of the most important decisions you can make, as attracting top talent creates a virtuous cycle. They are amazed at the caliber of the team that now leads and works at the company. As Banza has grown, they've structured the company around the employees' talent instead of the other way around.

Invest time in building a reliable network of people you admire and trust

Brian and Scott spent a lot of time networking in the early days. They wanted to learn from brands they admired, like Chobani, and they weren't afraid to send cold emails to academics who had written research papers on legume pasta. Their goal was to gain as much knowledge as they could and build strong relationships along the way. They credit their early success to this approach.

Related: 11 Skills That Will Make You Super Successful

Robert Tuchman

Entrepreneur Staff

Host of How Success Happens

Robert Tuchman is the host of Entrepreneur's How Success Happens podcast and founder of Amaze Media Labs the largest business creating podcasts for companies and brands. He built and sold two Inc. 500 companies: TSE Sports and Entertainment and Goviva acquired by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

This Cozy Coffee and Garden Shop Has Become a Staple in Its Community By Following 5 Smart Strategies

Maypop is a combination coffee and garden shop where a blend of community building and customer service creates an unforgettable experience.

Business News

OpenAI Just Released Its Text-to-Video Generator, Sora. Here's How the New AI Could Impact Small Businesses and Creators.

Sora has a variety of use cases for businesses, from social media campaigns to video creation.

Franchise

McDonald's Announces the Return of the Snack Wrap in 2025 — Here's What to Expect From Its Comeback

The decision comes after years of persistent customer demand for the portable snack, which debuted nearly two decades ago.

Business News

Who Is Luigi Mangione? UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Murder Suspect Arrested in Pennsylvania on Firearms Charge

Mangione, 26, has not been charged in connection with the killing of Thompson.

Innovation

These Entrepreneurs Created a League That Turns Gamers Into Pro Race Car Drivers: 'We're Giving Drivers a Sustainable Career Path'

Racing Prodigy's innovative E2Real sports league is lowering the high-cost barrier to entry for drivers to take their passion to the track.

Business News

'Faster, Smarter, and More Relevant': Reddit Tests AI That Combs the Site For You

The AI is like a blend of Google and ChatGPT, tailored specifically for Reddit.