February 13, 2025
Sunshine Buns, a venture born from a family recipe over 45 years ago, earned top recognition at Startup Alley, a small business fair, during the 2025 Silicon Slopes Summit. After receiving enthusiastic support from attendees, the cinnamon roll supplier was awarded for its tasty treats.
The company launched in 2022 with home baking and deliveries before opening its first brick-and-mortar location in Orem. Its name, Sunshine Buns, derives from a recipe gradually perfected by Mema, the mother of one of four co-founders, Chrisi Hammer.
“Mema had her first cinnamon roll in the 1970s and knew she could make something better,” Hammer said. “She worked for years to create the perfect recipe, and boy, did she deliver.” After decades of selling her rolls at local fundraisers and church events, the recipe became the foundation for a thriving business.
While all four founders — Chrisi Hammer, her husband Matt, and their friends Brian and Kass Martin — have had an interest in entrepreneurship, it wasn’t until an evening out that Sunshine Buns went from an idea to reality.
“One night, as the four of us were attending a show at the Hale Theater in Orem, we realized we needed to launch the business,” Hammer said. “We started an Instagram page and officially accepted orders the very next day, then sold out in a matter of minutes. That was when we knew we were onto something.”
The founders built the business with love, bootstrapping and doing anything they could to get the word out. In addition to their efforts, Hammer credits a large portion of Sunshine Buns’ success to its mentors at Gimme Beauty, Retail Collective, and Mixhers.
“We have been very fortunate to have many mentors through our journey this far,” Hammer said. “The Utah startup ecosystem has also been vital to our success.”
Hammer continued, “The community truly rallies behind its own. It’s encouraging to grow a business where the people believe in and support each other. Utah has the best economy, and brands here succeed like no place else.”
Reflecting on her journey, Hammer encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap. “Just start. It’s going to be hard, amazing, taxing, and glorious all at the same time. You’ll never have everything figured out, but the truth is, it’s always a good time to start.”
Visit Sunshine Buns on their website or stop by their brick-and-mortar location to try their beloved treats.
The information in this article is current as of the publishing date and is intended for informational purposes only. This article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal, tax, or business advice. Any resources and organizations mentioned, unless an entity of or a partner of the state of Utah, are not formally endorsed by the Startup State Initiative or state of Utah.