Homestead’s Hot Sauce started in a tiny NYC kitchen with no investors, no food industry background, and no backup plan — just a health scare that changed everything and a dream of creating something real.

I’m Maddy, the founder & CEO — known as The Hot Sauce Girl — but back then, I was a Mom frustrated by the food system. I started reading labels and realized how fake it all was. Additives, preservatives, mystery ingredients… I knew I had to take control of what my family was eating. So I grabbed a cutting board, pulled out my favorite peppers, and made my first bottle of hot sauce from scratch.

Bootstrapped Business: I taught myself how to get FDA approved, figured out licensing and insurance, and filed my federal trademark solo. I bottled orders by hand, built a loyal following on social media and ran a viral giveaway that grew our email list to 3,000 people in a single weekend! It wasn’t easy. It still isn’t. But every time someone tags us in a recipe or tells us our sauce became their favorite — I know it’s worth it.

I’ve had some wild milestones along the way — modeling at NYFW, being named one of NY Weekly’s Top 20 Inspiring Women to Look Out For in 2025, a CBS talk show appearance, a finalist spot on The Blox, and a nomination for the Flagler College Alumni Achievement Award. But the best part? I didn’t do it alone.

My husband and cofounder, Andrey, has been here since day one. He’s the engine behind our operations — managing production, distribution, and keeping this spicy ship moving. Together, we’ve built Homestead’s as a labor of love, grit, and purpose.

We use no fillers. No shortcuts. Just bold, clean flavor and real ingredients that speak for themselves. Our sauces are sold online nationwide, in NYC markets, and in cult-favorite burger joints like Fulton Burger. We’ve also donated bottles to NYC firefighters, collaborated with women-led brands, and kept social impact at the heart of everything we do.

Homestead’s isn’t just a sauce — it’s a rebellion against processed food, a love letter to real ingredients, and proof that you can start with nothing and build something that matters.

Welcome to the Homestead’s Family,

Maddy & Andrey