“Comfort Was the Tie I Had to Cut”—Chris Wolstenholme on Betting It All on Mate!

Send us Fan MailCut The Tie Podcast with Thomas HelfrichEpisode 261In this high-energy episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas sits down with Chris Wolstenholme, an Aussie entrepreneur based in Atlanta who went from managing restaurants to founding the world’s first vodka protein water brand: Mate!. Chris shares the real story behind launching a beverage startup without outside funding, the gross moment that finally pushed him to quit his job, and how cutting the tie to comfort opened the door to purpose, grit, and global ambition.About Chris Wolstenholme:Chris is the founder of Mate Beverage, a unique alcohol startup combining vodka with protein. After 20+ years in the restaurant and hospitality industry across multiple countries, Chris made the leap into entrepreneurship with no investors—just a vision, a supportive spouse, and a mop in hand. His brand “Mate” is a bold attempt to redefine “drinking smart,” and he’s doing it one pitch, one bar, and one bottle at a time.In this episode, Thomas and Chris discuss:Cutting the Tie to ComfortFrom restaurant GM to startup founder, Chris had to walk away from a stable paycheck and step into financial uncertainty to chase a bigger dream.The Bathroom Epiphany It took cleaning vomit off a restaurant bathroom floor—for minimum wage—for Chris to finally realize it was time to bet on himself.Why Mate is DifferentNo bubbles. No bloat. No empty calories. Chris breaks down the unique niche Mate fills in a crowded beverage market—and why he’s the only vodka with protein on the shelf.Start With One Thing a Day From napkin sketches to LLC formation, Chris shares how just doing one thing every day kept his momentum (and sanity) as a solo founder.An Outsider’s View of AmericaAs a non-American building a business in the U.S., Chris offers a thoughtful and powerful reminder about unity, identity, and opportunity.Key Takeaways:Comfort is the Enemy of GrowthIf you’re too comfortable, you’re probably not building something bold enough.Take Action ImmediatelyBig dreams start with small, fast moves. Start the LLC. Sketch the label. Take the shot.Sacrifice is Just ReallocationYou don’t need to suffer—you just need to shift your priorities for the mission.Gratitude is a Growth StrategyGratefulness fuels perseverance. Appreciate the support, the freedom, and the opportunity.Just Don’t QuitIt’s hard. It’s messy. But if you keep showing up, momentum will find you.Connect with Chris Wolstenholme:🔗 Mate Beverage on Instagram🔗 Chris on Instagram🔍 WebsiteConnect with Thomas Helfrich:🐦 Twitter📘 Facebook💼 LinkedIn🌐 Website📧 Email: [email protected]🚀 InstantlyRelevant.comSupport the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@cutthetie