Frozen One

Protein Meets Pleasure

The protein ice cream category has been growing for years, but most options force a trade-off: you can have the macros or the taste, but not both. Frozen One is betting that trade-off is over. With 40 grams of protein and under 400 calories per pint, the brand delivers a nutritional profile that rivals a protein shake — in flavors like chocolate, apple pie, and peanut butter chip.

Founded by Alan Chen and Conner Mennig, two University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates who relocated to Austin, Texas, Frozen One debuted in Austin retailers in May 2025. The brand has since expanded into regional grocery chains across the country, riding the wave of consumer demand for functional, better-for-you indulgences.

What Makes Them Different

While competitors like Halo Top focused on low-calorie positioning and others emphasize keto or low-sugar formulations, Frozen One leads with protein as the hero metric. The 40g-per-pint claim is significantly higher than most competitors, appealing directly to the fitness-conscious consumers who are already spending on protein bars, shakes, and supplements.

Why It Matters

The $2 million seed round, led by Supernatural Ventures with participation from Tonic Ventures and Lucinda Capital, gives Frozen One the capital to scale production and expand retail distribution. In the booming functional food market, protein-forward positioning is proving to be a powerful consumer magnet.

About Alan Chen & Conner Mennig

Alan Chen and Conner Mennig are the co-founders of Frozen One, the Austin-based protein ice cream brand delivering 40 grams of protein per pint. Both are University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates who moved to Austin to launch their CPG startup.

Chen and Mennig identified a gap in the protein ice cream market: existing options either compromised on taste or fell short on protein content. They spent months perfecting formulations that deliver genuinely indulgent flavor alongside fitness-level protein counts, launching first in Austin retail stores before expanding regionally.

With a $2 million seed round led by Supernatural Ventures, the co-founders are scaling production and expanding Frozen One's retail footprint across the country. Their focus on protein as the primary selling point — rather than low calorie or low sugar — has differentiated the brand in an increasingly crowded better-for-you ice cream market.

Co-Founders

UW-Madison

Alma Mater

$2M

Seed Funding

2025

Retail Launch

Sources: Public press releases, SEC and state business filings, published interviews, news coverage, and company disclosures.

Protein Meets Pleasure

What Makes Them Different

Why It Matters

About Alan Chen & Conner Mennig

Founder Media Mentions for Alan Chen & Conner Mennig