About us
What’s in a name?
The name “WeChi” carries a layered meaning.
“Chi” is the ancient concept of balance, vitality, and inner strength, a state we believe fermented foods help restore.
“Chi” also derives from “kimchi,” the foundation of our flagship product. In Korea, the tradition of KimJang (making and sharing kimchi together) embodies one of our core values: building community through food.
The “We” defines our role as providers of “Chi” to our community of friends, family and customers, while also stating plainly that gut health should be available to everyone. It’s “Chi” available for “We”!
What We Believe
We believe that healthy can be delicious and quality can be convenient.
Our mission is to connect on-the-go customers with exciting new flavors and increase opportunities for delicious & healthy moments throughout the day.
Inspired by global traditions, we’re committed to crafting innovative, vegetable-based products that support gut health, taste amazing and can be seamlessly integrated into everyday meals.
Who We Are
Joel Nassan ~ Founder
Food has always been my passport to other worlds.
Growing up with Middle Eastern grandparents, I was constantly immersed in bold spices, rich flavors, and the belief that a meal could transport you across cultures. That love of food as travel and connection to a different world has shaped me ever since.
As a teenager, I spent two summers in Korea teaching English. What stayed with me most wasn’t the classroom, it was the dinner table. There, I learned to make kimchi, not from a recipe, but through a living tradition shared in community with my host family.
But WeChi goes even deeper for me… Ten years ago, fermented food healed me and changed my life forever. I faced a serious stomach illness that doctors couldn’t remedy, and turned to fermented foods as a way to change my life, rewire my gut, and heal my body. Natural probiotics restored my balance, energy, and health. Now that's what I call some “Chi!”
That experience gave me a passion to share the power of fermented foods with others. My first convert? My close friend Kyle, who quickly became my partner in this journey…
Kyle Ahlgren ~ Co-Founder
I’ve always loved “real” food. I just didn’t know what that meant until a couple years into my professional career.
My first job – as a graphic designer for a bi-coastal fine dining and catering company – thrust me into the world of premium ingredients, global flavors, and artfully prepared plates. As my career evolved, I branded restaurants & bars, marketed premium baking ingredient companies, and got to work with world-class chefs and bakers. At some point, I realized I was tapping into something that had always been there: a love of “real” food, made from scratch with high-quality ingredients. You know, the kind that’s good for you and also tastes amazing?
After starting a family (and a few businesses), I realized that spending time making “real” food was a real luxury. In order to fuel my busy lifestyle and aging body (hello 40s!) I started looking for healthy, on-the-go snacks, protein bars, probiotic drinks, functional foods and supplements.
When Joel approached me with the idea to help brand and market a new, modern take on the kimchi we’d been making together for close to 10 years, it didn’t take me long to realize it was a perfect fit.