How an alumnus turned a popcorn craving into a thriving company
Anyone who has passed through downtown Chicago knows the temptation of Garrett Popcorn: the unmistakable aroma, the lines out the door, the iconic tins carried through airports and train stations. For Chirag Gupta (GRS ’08, computing and information science), that familiar snack became something more than a memory from his time at Deloitte’s Chicago office. It became the spark for an entrepreneurial journey that now reaches consumers in more than 10 countries.
Born and raised in India, Gupta came to Case Western Reserve University in 2008 to pursue a master’s degree in computer science. Eager to get started, he enrolled in the spring semester rather than waiting until fall—and moved just as quickly once he arrived. By completing his thesis credits over the summer and defending in the fall, he finished his degree in just one year.
That year, he said, was transformative.
At Case Western Reserve, Gupta found a global community and a style of learning that was very different from what he had known before. With classmates from around the world and professors who emphasized practical problem-solving over memorization, he gained both technical skills and confidence.
“In my whole career, I have not done better studies than at Case Western Reserve,” Gupta said. “It was very practical, and it gave me the confidence to perform at the next level.”
After graduation, Gupta had offers from both Deloitte and Microsoft. He chose Deloitte, a decision that proved formative. Over the next five years as a consultant, he sharpened the sales, networking and communication skills that would later become essential as a founder.
Eventually, Gupta returned to India to be closer to his parents, taking a sabbatical to consider what might come next. During that time, he and his wife found themselves reminiscing about the popcorn they used to enjoy in Chicago. When they couldn’t find anything comparable in India, they asked friends traveling from the United States to bring some back. The response from family and friends was immediate: people loved it.
That moment led to the founding of 4700BC, the premium snacking brand Gupta built from scratch. Its name comes from the earliest known evidence of popcorn consumption—around 4700 BC in Ecuador—and reflects the company’s effort to tell a bigger story about one of the world’s oldest natural snacks. Today, the company employs nearly 700 people, has expanded beyond popcorn into products like pretzels and roasted edamame, and is exploring U.S. sales—bringing Gupta’s journey full circle.
“I would be very excited if I’m able to sell this product back in the U.S., because that’s where the whole story started,” Gupta said.
Looking back, Gupta sees a direct line between his Case Western Reserve education and his success as an entrepreneur.
“Everybody can make popcorn,” he said. “But how well you execute is the story.”
He also recently reconnected with fellow alumni at the university’s bicentennial event in Mumbai, where he was struck by the strength and reach of the Case Western Reserve network in India.
For Gupta, Case Western Reserve was more than a degree. It was the place that taught him how to think practically, act boldly and build something lasting (and delicious, of course).
