Entrepreneur and restaurateur Pinky Cole Hayes has successfully reclaimed ownership of Slutty Vegan, her popular plant-based burger chain, after a brief period of losing control of the company.
The inspiring turnaround comes after what she describes as one of the most challenging times in her entrepreneurial journey, AfroTech, which has been monitoring the enterprise, reported.
Slutty Vegan boasts seven locations primarily in Georgia, and has grown into a cultural and culinary phenomenon since its founding.
By 2022, the company was valued at nearly $100 million, bolstered by a $25 million Series A funding round. Over the years, it has expanded to high-profile locations, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Spelman College, although the latter has since closed.
However, 2024 presented unexpected hurdles for Cole Hayes. In an interview with People, she revealed that the company’s corporate overhead had reached $10 million, creating significant financial strain. She acknowledged that she had not been as involved in the daily operations as she should have been, leading to critical missteps.
“You can never take your hands off the wheel,” Cole Hayes admitted, reflecting on her experience.
On Feb. 13, 2025, Slutty Vegan underwent a global restructuring, a process that resulted in Cole Hayes losing ownership of the business.
She took to Instagram to share her emotions, describing the period as one filled with grief, sadness, fear, and uncertainty.
“The last couple of months have probably been the most incredibly difficult of my entrepreneurial life,” she said. “But I realized that as long as I continue to stick to my faith, God will always be by my side. And as hard as change is, it is necessary, but it’s always for the good.”
Determined to reclaim her vision, Cole Hayes made a triumphant comeback. On March 28, 2025, she successfully repurchased her company under the entity name “Ain’t Nobody Coming to See You, Otis LLC,” a nod to the iconic 1998 film The Temptations.
Looking ahead, she plans to relaunch Slutty Vegan with a fresh strategy and a new group of investors. With an eye toward expansion beyond the U.S., she envisions growth into international markets such as Dubai and Africa.
“People love Slutty Vegan because they love me, and I used to not tap into that,” Cole Hayes said. “But I [now] know I have a superpower with people. People love me, so I know that people are going to support and back me in whatever it is that I authentically do.”
Her unyielding strength is an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere!
