From Bears’ Bikes to Farmer’s Fridge: A Founder’s Journey Back to WashU

Tuesday, March 17th, the auditorium at Bauer Hall was packed with students and members of the WashU community, and the energy in the room was unmistakable. Pencils moved quickly. Fingers flew across keyboards. Questions came fast and thoughtful.

At the front of the room was WashU alumnus and founder Luke Saunders, whose entrepreneurial journey began on this very campus.

Where It Started: Learning Ownership at WashU

Before launching Farmer’s Fridge in 2013, Saunders was already building something of his own. As a student, he was a Student Enterprise Program (StEP) owner, running Bears’ Bikes, an experience that gave him a firsthand understanding of what it truly means to own a business. From managing operations and finances to dealing directly with customers, Saunders wasn’t learning entrepreneurship in theory; he was living it. It was during this time that he realized he wanted to be an entrepreneur.

The Idea: Rethinking Access to Fresh Food

Saunders didn’t set out just to build a company — he set out to solve a problem that felt deeply personal and urgent.

“There’s no reason in my mind that fresh, healthy food shouldn’t be an option for everyone.”

That belief became the foundation for Farmer’s Fridge. As he explored the idea, one question kept surfacing:

“Why has nobody tried to set up a factory for fresh food?”

At the time, Saunders was driving nearly 1,000 miles a week, giving him long stretches to think through the problem — and begin imagining a solution.

Building Without a Blueprint

Saunders built Farmer’s Fridge without a co-founder, a path that required both independence and resilience. He spoke candidly about the realities of building a company from the ground up, emphasizing that early-stage founders don’t need perfect conditions; they need action.

One of his clearest pieces of advice to students:

“This is the best time to start a business. Don’t raise capital until you absolutely have to.”

It was a message that resonated with the room — especially for students navigating when and how to begin.

Scaling a Mission-Driven Company

Today, Farmer’s Fridge operates in more than 2,000 locations nationwide and has served millions of fresh, healthy meals, including in communities with limited access to nutritious food. But Saunders made it clear that growth didn’t come from having all the answers upfront.

One of his most important lessons:

Listen — closely and often.

“Listen to consumers and friends,” he emphasized, underscoring how feedback shapes better decisions, stronger products and more sustainable businesses.

A Full-Circle Moment

Saunders’ return to WashU was more than a talk — it was a reflection of what’s possible when students are given the opportunity to build early. His journey from running Bears’ Bikes to leading a nationally scaled company highlights the power of hands-on entrepreneurship, curiosity, and persistence.

For the students in the room, the takeaway was simple but powerful:

You don’t have to wait.

The tools, resources, and opportunities are already here — and the best time to start might be right now.

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