Press & Media
Press resources for
covering WERZ.
Founder bio, brand assets, key facts, recent milestones, and contact for editorial pitches. Latest news: 1971 Hook now in 45 Whole Foods stores across NorCal, Boise, and Reno.
Press inquiries
press@werz.ai
Response within 24 hours.
Location
Fresno, California
California-wide; travel nationally.
1971 Hook is now on shelves in 45 Whole Foods stores.
Hudson Valley hot sauce brand 1971 Hook — built from the soil up by WERZ founder Sebastian Werz — launched in 45Whole Foods Market locations across Northern California, plus Boise (ID) and Reno (NV) in May 2026. The full case study covers the 18-month brand build: ingredient sourcing, the director's cut brand film, the editorial campaign, the chef community, and the path to retail.
Founder
Sebastian Werz
Founder & Director, WERZ. Founder, 1971 Hook.
Sebastian Werz is the founder and creative director of WERZ, a California-based creative agency producing video, web, and marketing for businesses across the state. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 2016 and co-founded a Y Combinator-backed company in the W17 batch before founding WERZ. In 2024, he founded 1971 Hook — a small-batch hot sauce brand sourced from generational Hudson Valley pepper farms — that launched in 45 Whole Foods stores across Northern California, plus Boise and Reno, in May 2026. Sebastian holds an FAA Part 107 certification for commercial drone operations and has produced for clients across CPG, healthcare, biotech, robotics, finance, and clean energy verticals.
Key facts
For your fact-checker.
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersCalifornia (Fresno)
- FounderSebastian Werz
- Founder educationUC Berkeley, 2016
- Founder backgroundY Combinator alum (W17 batch)
- ServicesVideo production, web development, marketing
- Coverage areaCalifornia-wide; travels nationally
- Drone certificationFAA Part 107
- Projects completed100+
- Cities served67+
- SpecialtiesBrand films, customer stories, CPG launches, drone, recruiting, climate tech and cleantech
- Climate tech focusBrand video, field documentation, and FAA Part 107 site-scale aerial for solar, robotics, and hardware startups (e.g. Cosmic Robotics)
Approved quotes
Use these freely with attribution.
“From pre-production logistics to on-site shoots, editing, and delivery — he's consistently organized, prepared, and ready to execute. Reliable, talented, and low-drama. A combination that's hard to find and extremely valuable.”
“We don't just produce content for CPG clients — we built one. The result is in 45 Whole Foods stores.”
“A brand film made before the product launches is the buyer-room asset. After launch, it's marketing. Before launch, it's leverage.”
Recent milestones
Timeline.
May 2026
1971 Hook launches in 45 Whole Foods stores
WERZ-built Hudson Valley CPG brand 1971 Hook launches in 45 Whole Foods locations across Northern California, Boise (ID), and Reno (NV).
Read moreApril 2026
1971 Hook director's cut brand film delivered
21-minute documentary film tracing 1971 Hook from Hudson Valley pepper farms to bottle — produced before product launch as the buyer-room asset.
Read more2025
Cosmic Robotics solar campaign
Multi-day brand and field documentation for Cosmic Robotics' robotic solar construction systems across California and Texas. The flagship case study for how WERZ approaches climate tech and cleantech video work.
Read more2024
1971 Hook brand build begins
WERZ founder Sebastian Werz launches 1971 Hook — sourcing peppers from generational Hudson Valley farms and building the brand from the soil up.
Read more
Resources
Background reading.
Cosmic Robotics — climate tech brand build
How WERZ approaches video for climate tech and cleantech startups (case study)
Climate tech industry positioning
Capabilities, process, and pricing for climate tech and cleantech video
1971 Hook full case study
How WERZ built a Hudson Valley CPG brand to a 45-store NorCal launch
Inside the NorCal Whole Foods launch
Long-form playbook for small CPG brands targeting national specialty grocery
2026 California Video Production Pricing Guide
Pricing benchmarks by region across LA, SF, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Fresno
Investor-deck brand film guide
What fundable founders ship for Series A-C decks; what to avoid
Full 45-store list
Whole Foods locations stocking 1971 Hook, grouped by region with addresses