NLB CEO Named in Adweek's 2022 Young Influentials Under 40!

We're so proud of our fearless NLB leader, CEO and Co-Founder, Matt de Gruyter, for making the list of Adweek's Young Influentials under 40. See more on what it's all about and why NLB's mission of fighting climate change caught Adweek's attention!

More from Adweek

When de Gruyter and his wife, Cierra, adopted an organic, vegan diet for the health benefits, they realized there was a gap in the market for 100% plant-based burger joints – so, just before de Gruyter’s 31st birthday, the couple decided to take the leap and open America’s first one. “We were willing to risk [it] all to build something that would be a legacy for our kids and hopefully make a real, substantive difference in the world,” de Gruyter said. “I thought that the writing was on the wall: health benefits, environmental benefits. But what I could not anticipate was how fast, furious, how electric this space would become.” According to de Gruyter, Next Level Burger has served millions of “our fellow human beings” and has saved almost 400 million galls of fresh water and millions of pounds of carbon emissions, in addition to saving the lives of animals. The de Gruyter family (Matthew, Cierra and their two children) also participates in activism for the environment and animal rights. –?Chloé Harper Gold

More on the Young the Young Influentials List

Our annual Young Influentials list highlights individuals under 40 who are truly making an impact across media, marketing, tech and the creator economy. Every year, we’ve been introduced to countless young people who are making significant strides in these fields, and the best part is that there’s never a shortage of innovators. This year’s honorees genuinely embody what it means to be influential. From making change in their C-suite positions to creating viral dances seen across platforms like TikTok, these individuals are impacting our daily lives in meaningful ways.?—Chloé Harper Gold and Colin Daniels