Operations
FastCasual's 2024 Perfect Pitch winner inks major expansion deal
Co-founders Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen, will serve as advisers at this year's Perfect Pitch, a round robin featuring eight founders vying to see which brand has the most growth potential.
August 26, 2025
Vietnamese fast casual brand Saigon Hustle is set to embark on a major expansion across the Southeast, backed by a partnership with Savory Fund and Virentes Partners Group. The announcement comes after the brand's 2024 success at the Fast Casual Executive Summit, where it won "The Perfect Pitch" competition, a "Shark Tank"-style competition that spotlights emerging restaurant concepts
The growth strategy includes a 24-unit franchise deal across Florida, Tennessee and the Carolinas, with a significant investment from Virentes Partners Group into Saigon Hustle's corporate operations. Co-founded by Houston residents Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen, the brand, known for its modern take on Vietnamese cuisine, plans to triple its corporate store count in the next two years.
"We could not be more excited for Cassie and Sandy, and are honored to have them back at this year's Perfect Pitch to serve as advisers to the eight brands pitching their concepts at the Summit," said Cherryh Cansler, host of the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Oct. 5-7 in Austin. "This year's pitch is a round robin featuring eight founders vying to see which brand has the most growth potential."
Saigon Hustle first caught the attention of investors when it won Savory Fund's "Million-Dollar Restaurant Launch" in 2021 and continued with its win of the Perfect Pitch.
"There's truly nothing like Saigon Hustle," Andrew K. Smith, co-founder of Savory Fund, said in a company press release. "We're thrilled to partner with the Virentes team to bring this unique concept to new cities."
The partnership is poised to introduce Saigon Hustle's flavor-forward menu, which includes Banh Mi sandwiches and pho, to a wider audience, building on its "Chipotle of Vietnamese food" reputation and a loyal following in its two Houston locations.
Register here to attend the Summit, which includes free entry to the Perfect Pitch.
