Hidden Gems: Meet Aryan Abawi of PROTREATS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aryan Abawi.

Hi Aryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was laid off of my corporate project management job in November of 2025. After rejection and rejection, I just started to feel stuck. My hobbies include food, baking and health. So I decided to just start baking.

After some time, I started PROTREATS because I was looking for something like this that hadn’t existed. I am so passionate about health, wellness, fitness and nutrition… but I’m also so passionate about cookies haha. I wanted to create an actual GOOD tasting cookie with benefit, not those chalky, low calorie, no flavor protein bars or cookies from the supermarket that have all these preservatives and gums. So with PROTREATS, you have protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and other supporting nutrients PLUS the flavor of a really good cookie.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been extremely hard haha. Just learning about the back ends and how to get started took a toll on me. Between licenses and certifications I didn’t realize how much it took to move from home baking and jump into a commercial kitchen. But I rolled with the punches and as I continued to grow, it became harder to keep up with demand. I’m a one person team so that means long nights, early mornings, anxiety, panic attacks haha. People see baking and cookies and think that it’s all fun and rainbows but man…. You’re essentially running an entire business on your own. I’m the founder and looking for ways to create growth but I’m also the marketing director, financial analyst, production manager, sales rep, operations manager, accountant, graphic designer and content creator, nutritionist, website manager, logistics coordinator, events manager, brand strategist I mean the list goes on.

What’s interesting is that most small businesses fail because founders are good at only one of these roles. So I’m learning that I need to take on some help and hire if I expect to expand. The challenge though is allowing PROTREATS to grow, allowing myself to be replaced and trusting that the quality won’t be interrupted. So now that I’ve hit my 7th mark, that’s the next step.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about PROTREATS?
I don’t think there’s another cookie on the market like PROTREATS. There’s protein cookies and protein bars everywhere, but they’re not that good. I am also incorporating so much more than protein. There’s fiber yes, but I use a special einkorn and spelt flour that retains the nutritional properties so much more. If you check the backs of labels for other snacks, they’re predominantly using enriched bleach flour. There’s no nutritional value in that compared to my flour mixes I’m using.

I want readers to know that you could have your cookie and eat it too. Life is too short for the mediocre flavors that force you to feel better about your food choices. They’re also disguised as health foods but are packed with gums and preservatives. I think what sets me apart from other brands is mostly that, I can create a bakery style cookie, that’s indulgent and flavorful, but also packs nutritional benefit and fuels you.

I’m mostly proud of how quickly this scaled. I’d say 75% or more of our weekly orders come from returning customers, which tells me people aren’t just buying PROTREATS once, they’re making them part of their routine. They directly ask for subscriptions or “early access” for repeating customers. And while I’m excited they are so supportive and loving PROTREATS, I know I need to expand to hiring a team so NEW customers can try and enjoy. That just means they know the system and can order quicker. I mean I sell out after 10 minutes sometimes haha. I need new customers to try and get involved!

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
So many lessons have been learned in just 7 months. I have learned that I’m capable of a lot more than I ever gave myself credit for. When I started PROTREATS I was constantly questioning myself and wondering if I belonged in this space. Like there are so many people doing this. It’s saturated in big billion cookie production. But somewhere along the way, I stopped telling myself I had imposter syndrome and started telling myself, ‘I’m proud of you.’ Every challenge I’ve figured out, every order I’ve shipped, every customer who’s come back, has been proof that I can do hard things and am good at it.

I’ve also learned the importance of patience. Running a small business can be incredibly stressful, especially when you’re doing everything yourself, but I’ve learned to slow down, breathe, and trust the process. Not every week is perfect, not every cookie is perfect, and not every decision is perfect, and that’s okay. Try and fail and it’ll teach you more than being perfect will.

In a funny way I think this journey is preparing me for motherhood one day. I hope to have children in the next couple of years, and building a business has taught me resilience, patience, problem-solving, and how to care deeply about something you’re growing from the ground up. PROTREATS may be cookies to some people, but it’s also taught me lessons that extend far beyond baking. I’m learning every day that I can be strong and raise something beautiful that others will love too.

Pricing:

• $7 each cookie
• Quality, organic ingredients
• No seed oils

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.protreatsbyair.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protreatsbyair?utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@protreatsbyair?_r=1&_t=ZT-972TypDGxFG