Live Episode! Tofurky: Seth Tibbott

Enlarge this image Marcus Marritt for NPR Marcus Marritt for NPR

Seth Tibbott may be the only founder in the world who grew his business while living in a barn, a teepee, and a treehouse.

His off-the-grid lifestyle helped him save money as he started to sell tempeh, a protein made of fermented soybeans.

Throughout the 1980s he barely scraped by, but things took a turn in 1995, when he discovered a stuffed tofu roast made in Portland, Oregon.

Knowing vegetarians had few options at Thanksgiving, Seth named the roast Tofurky and started selling it at co-ops in the Pacific Northwest.

Nearly 25 years later, Tofurky sells plant-based protein around the world, and has estimated sales of $40 million a year.

This show was recorded live at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon.