# Elise Densborn

> Elise Densborn is the New York-based co-CEO of Splendid Spoon, the plant-based prepared-food company she first encountered as a customer and early investor. A CPA and Kellogg MBA with a background in finance and middle-market industrial operations, she joined the seven-person business as a consultant in 2018, became its finance and strategy lead, moved into the COO role and formalized a co-CEO partnership with founder Nicole Centeno in 2021. Densborn helped lead a $12 million Series B and, in 2026, Splendid Spoon's acquisition of Mosaic Foods and shift toward vertically integrated food development and manufacturing.

- **Role:** Co-CEO at Splendid Spoon
- **Organizations:** Splendid Spoon, Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana Young Leaders Board, Providence Cristo Rey High School, Indianapolis Zoo Associate Council
- **Education:** MBA, Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management
- **Known for:** Rose from a 2018 consulting assignment to co-CEO of Splendid Spoon in January 2021., Helped lead Splendid Spoon through a $12 million Series B announced in February 2022., Reported that the business generated $15 in revenue for every dollar invested in recent years as of the 2022 Series B announcement.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2018** — Built a finance and accounting career that included PwC and work for an Indianapolis family office holding middle-market industrial businesses; served in operating and transaction-focused assignments and became a Certified Public Accountant.
- **2014** — Completed an MBA at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and was named a Youn Impact Scholar.
- **2018** — Joined Splendid Spoon as a consultant to solve a purchasing problem in its new smoothie line, then accepted a permanent finance and strategy role as vice president of finance and insights.
- **2019** — Moved into the COO role, overseeing a widening set of operating functions as the company grew beyond its seven-person team.
- **2021** — Formalized a co-CEO partnership with Splendid Spoon founder Nicole Centeno in January.
- **2022** — Helped lead Splendid Spoon's $12 million Series B; the company reported more than 50 plant-based products, more than 20,000 subscribers and an average 100% annual growth rate at the time.
- **2023** — Presented her customer-to-co-CEO journey and lessons on partnership, technology and fundraising in Stanford's Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders series.
- **2026** — Helped lead Splendid Spoon's acquisition of Mosaic Foods, combining the brand's product and customer expertise with in-house development and manufacturing capabilities.

## Achievements

- Rose from a 2018 consulting assignment to co-CEO of Splendid Spoon in January 2021.
- Helped lead Splendid Spoon through a $12 million Series B announced in February 2022.
- Reported that the business generated $15 in revenue for every dollar invested in recent years as of the 2022 Series B announcement.
- Helped expand Splendid Spoon to more than 65 meal options and a footprint of 200,000 customers by the time of her 2023 Stanford talk.
- Helped lead the 2026 acquisition of Mosaic Foods, creating a combined catalog of more than 200 plant-based and vegetarian meals, snacks and beverages.
- Named a Youn Impact Scholar by Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in 2014.
- Created an annual $5,000 grant program while serving with Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana's Young Leaders Board.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Mosaic Foods began offering more than 20 Splendid Spoon meals through its own site, extending the combined brands' shared catalog after their merger.
- **2026-01** — Splendid Spoon acquired Mosaic Foods alongside an undisclosed investment from Gather Ventures; the companies reported more than $190 million in cumulative direct-to-consumer revenue and more than 200 combined products.

## Links

- Website: https://splendidspoon.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elise-densborn-597505b
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/splendidspoonny
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/splendid.spoon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/splendidspoon
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@splendid.spoon

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/elise-densborn
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27