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Justin Mares

Justin Mares

Serial entrepreneur, investor, author, and health advocate

Austin, Texas
nitter
Joined March 2026
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Network

7.1K connections
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Entrepreneurial Investors
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Venture Capital Investors
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AI Deeptech Innovators
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Health Wellness Founders
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Web3 Crypto Builders
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Kettle & Fire Perfect Keto
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Summary

Justin Mares is a prolific serial entrepreneur, demonstrating a consistent ability to identify market needs, validate ideas, and build successful direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands in the health and wellness sector. His ventures, including Kettle & Fire, Perfect Keto, and Surely, collectively generate significant revenue and highlight his expertise in product development, market entry, and scaling operations. nitter+4
Beyond building companies, Mares is deeply invested in the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a Venture Partner at Long Journey Ventures and a co-author of 'Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth.' He actively shares insights on growth, marketing, and startup strategies, reflecting his commitment to empowering other founders. longjourney+3
Mares is a passionate advocate for preventive health and a healthier food system, which is a recurring theme across his entrepreneurial endeavors and personal writings. From leading Truemed to enable HSA/FSA funds for wellness products to pioneering nutrient-rich bone broth with Kettle & Fire, his work consistently aims to transform healthcare and food consumption habits. nitter+4
His early entrepreneurial journey showcases resilience and a practical approach to problem-solving. From his first startup, RoommateFit, sparked by a personal college experience, to his role in 'lean philanthropy' with HelpKitchen during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mares demonstrates an ability to identify problems and rapidly develop solutions. entrepreneur+1

Work

Education

Writing

It's time for lean philanthropy: a case study (HelpKitchen)

August 1, 2020

A case study on how Justin Mares and his team applied Lean Startup principles to create HelpKitchen, a non-profit that served over 170,000 meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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How I validated my idea for Kettle & Fire

May 1, 2020

A detailed account of how Justin Mares systematically tested and proven demand for the bone broth concept that became Kettle & Fire, illustrating his entrepreneurial process.

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I Launched A Thing (Fomo acquisition story)

August 1, 2016

A blog post detailing the acquisition of Notify and its transformation into Fomo, an app designed to add social proof to websites and improve conversion rates.

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The Next (Substack Newsletter)

A newsletter exploring what's next in health, startups, and society, with over 15,000 subscribers, showcasing his ongoing insights and interests.

Favicon imagejustinmares.substack.com

Notes

QCQuentin Cantusaid
JMJustin Mares
has demonstrated exceptional leadership in building a successful venture-backed startup.

Jan 21, 2026

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