Issei Mochi Gummies' Mika Shino Makes Inc.’s 2024 Female Founders List And Is Featured On Cover

(New York, NY) April 9, 2024 – Inc. today announced its seventh annual Female Founders list, honoring a bold group of 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place. Mika Shino, Founder & CEO of Issei Mochi Gummies, shares the cover of Inc. Magazine’s 2024 Female Founders 200 issue  with Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan, co-founders of De Soi;  Piersten Gaines, founder of Pressed Roots; and Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder of Cloudflare.   

The founders cross all industries and bring with them unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey — from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization. They are reinventing everything from shoes to food and are challenging issues like financial literacy and reproductive health. To see the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/female-founders

Diana Ransom, Inc. Executive Editor said, “The past year, for many, will go down as one of the hardest ever—between a funding freeze and ad-spending pull back. The female founders on this year’s list are a testament to what triumph over adversity looks like. They should all be proud of this singular accomplishment.”

Issei Mochi Gummies Mika Shino adds,  "Being selected to grace the cover of Inc.'s Female Founder issue is a testament to the collective power of perseverance, innovation, and female leadership. It's an incredible honor and a reflection of the journey we've embarked upon as entrepreneurs, breaking barriers and shaping the future.”

This recognition comes after several wins for Mika’s innovative candy brand this year, as Issei has experienced exceptional growth with both physical retailers and online sales as well as numerous accolades and awards. Read the Inc. Issei Mochi Gummy interview here: How Candymaker Mika Shino Survived Sweet but Sudden Success.

Founded in 2022 by first-generation Japanese entrepreneur, Mika Shino, the award winning Issei Mochi Gummies are the world’s first all natural mochi gummy brand.  The candies are shelf-stable, vegan, kosher, and free of gluten, dairy, soy and nuts. Most importantly, these delicious, chewy treats are crafted with a commitment to all-natural ingredients — devoid of GMOs, animal-derived gelatin, and artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors.  The first of its kind, Issei Mochi Gummies have a completely new textural and chewing experience with a soft, chewy, pillowy texture, somewhere between a gummy bear and a marshmallow. The gummies can be enjoyed straight from the package, or paired with ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, puddings, or a favorite dessert.  

Issei Mochi Gummies debuted exclusively with Whole Foods Market in September 2022. Stocking the shelves in 192 stores across the U.S., it repeatedly sold out in many locations and quickly became the #2 best selling single-serving chewy candy.  In 2023 Issei Mochi Gummies extensive expansion included a growing base of retail and distributor outlets, nationally, regionally, and locally as well as online at Amazon and Mochigummies.com.   Since launch, Issei Mochi Gummies physical retail footprint has expanded 10X with over 2000 national retail doors including Sprouts Farmers Markets, Hy-Vee, Albertsons, World Market, Raley's, Bestie's Vegan Paradise, The World Bank, The Compass Group and will be announcing more major national retailers this Spring.  Walmart selected the brand from thousands of applicants for the coveted "Golden Ticket" award at Walmart's Open Call 2023 and they will be launching this Spring. 

Issei Mochi Gummies has also released exciting new flavor innovations including sour watermelon, tangerine, YUZU and a first of its kind limited edition dark chocolate covered strawberry mochi gummy.   Other available flavors include Strawberry, Mango, and Vanilla.  Recognized for its commitment to excellence, Issei Mochi Gummies won TasteTV’s Best New Chewy Snack, Best New Packaging and Best Texture Awards in 2023 and FoodBev Media’s World Food Innovation Best Confectionary Product Award in 2024.  The brand was also nominated for Nosh’s Most Innovative New Product Award 2023 as well as Best of 2022 and 2023 Awards, and became a Finalist as Best New Sweet Snack 2023 for the Nexty Awards at ExpoWest.  Mika Shino was recently recognized by the Stevie Awards for the Best Fest Female Entrepreneur in 2023 and as a finalist for Success Magazine’s 2024 Women of Influence Awards. 

Issei Mochi Gummies embraces the ancient Japanese tradition of mochi, a beloved rice-based treat with centuries of history and often consumed during sacred ceremonies, celebrations, gatherings and expressions of gratitude. The company redefines snacking, offering unparalleled purity as one of the cleanest snacks ever developed. Suitable for a wide range of lifestyles, these gummies are meticulously crafted to meet the highest standards of dietary inclusivity.  

Issei’s mission is simple: to innovate better food options for a happier, healthier life, ensuring everyone can enjoy delicious snacks that align with their values.    The term “Issei” means ‘first generation Japanese immigrants in the U.S.’  — symbolizing the earnest hope of immigrants who bring the best of their heritage to their newfound home.  Issei is dedicated to infusing diversity and inclusion into the food sector, building bridges across cultures through the universal language of food.  Shino, is a first-generation Japanese entrepreneur and mother who brings a wealth of experience from her leadership roles in the culture, music and diplomacy space, having served as a United Nations Program Specialist, CEO, COO, producer, and advisor for tech firms, private companies and celebrities. Shino also attended Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris and published a cookbook ‘Smart Bites for Baby’ (Perseus Press, 2011). Together with a strong team of experts, Issei has established itself as the premium, natural snack brand of the future. With innovation at the forefront, Issei is bringing incremental growth to the candy category and has introduced an entirely new category of gummies to the market.  Issei has an aggressive growth strategy with multiple fist-to-market product lines in development. 

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world’s biggest problems. The list features women who have overcome challenges and lifted those around them, while leading impactful organizations across the country. They join the ranks of previous honorees including Jessica Alba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rihanna, and Shonda Rhimes.

After launching in 2018, the Female Founders list is one of Inc.’s most esteemed franchises. Inc. magazine’s Female Founders issue (April 2024) will be available online on April 9 at https://www.inc.com/magazine and on newsstands on April 16.

Join the Female Founders conversation using #FemaleFounders.

About Inc.

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning, multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion among the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Issei Mochi Gummies 

Established in 2022 by first-generation Japanese entrepreneur, Mika Shino, Issei Mochi Gummies embraces the ancient Japanese tradition of mochi, a beloved rice-based confection with centuries of history. Issei Mochi Gummies redefines snacking, offering unparalleled purity as one of the cleanest snacks ever developed. Suitable for a wide range of lifestyles, these gummies are meticulously crafted to meet the highest standards of dietary inclusivity. It is shelf-stable, vegan, kosher, and free of gluten, dairy, soy and nuts. Most importantly, these delicious, chewy treats are crafted with a commitment to all-natural ingredients — devoid of GMOs, animal-derived gelatin, and artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors.  The first of its kind, Issei Mochi Gummies debuted exclusively with Whole Foods Market in September 2022. Stocking the shelves in 192 stores across the U.S., it repeatedly sold out in many locations and quickly became the #2 best selling single-serving chewy candy. Now, the gummies are readily accessible nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Market, Raley's, Bestie's Vegan Paradise, Tillamook, The World Bank, The Compass Group,Pop-Up Grocer as well as on Amazon and directly on the company website. Available flavors include Strawberry, Mango, Sour Watermelon, Tangerine  YUZU and Vanilla, with more to come in 2024.  Issei’s mission is simple: to innovate better food options for a happier, healthier life, ensuring everyone can enjoy delicious snacks that align with their values.

Media Contact:

For Issei Mochi Gummies  / Kerri Brusca   kerri@mochigummies.com  

Media Assets + Information:  https://mochigummies.com/pages/media-resources#