Meet Kirsten Maitland

Navy veteran. Tech disruptor. Co-Founder of Rebel Cheese.

We're thrilled to share that our founder, Kirsten Maitland, has been named on the 2026 Inc. Female Founders 500 list — a recognition of the most dynamic women-led businesses and their achievements over the last 12 months.

From Navy Ships to Cheese Caves

Before Kirsten was aging a cultured plant-based brie, she was navigating ships for the U.S. Navy. After that, she spent years running agile sprints for companies like Microsoft and Expedia.

Kirsten had a career most people would call impressive — and she decided to walk away from it anyway.

When Kirsten and Fred (husband and Rebel co-founder) went vegan, the one thing they couldn't find was cheese that actually tasted like cheese. Rich, creamy, the kind you'd build a whole board around. It was their favorite indulgence for date nights, celebrations, and cozy nights in, so when nothing matched her expectations, Kirsten decided to make it herself.

As Kirsten tasted her first brie — aged in a small 8-bottle wine fridge in their kitchen — she knew there was no going back. In 2019, Kirsten and Fred took the leap and opened Austin's very first gourmet vegan cheese shop and deli, and she hasn't slowed down since.

A few things that happened along the way:

🚀 Grew from a single Austin shop to a national ecommerce brand

🦈 Landed a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank

🏅 Named one of TIME's Best Inventions & joined the Inc. 5000

🏆 Received numerous awards & nominations

🗽 +1 cheese shop in New York City

🧀 Proved that plant-based cheese can be defiantly delicious

Joy First. Always.

If you've ever met Kirsten, you know: her energy is contagious. She leads with warmth, builds with precision, and believes — deeply — that the best way to inspire change is through joy, not judgment.

She's motivated by sustainability, animal welfare, and above all, flavor. Because she knows that if it doesn't taste incredible, none of the rest matters.

That's why Rebel Cheese has never been about telling people what they should eat. It's about making something so good, you don't even think about what's missing. Whether you're vegan, veg-curious, or just someone who loves great food — there's a seat at Kirsten's table for you.