Jason McGowan is a well-known businessman, especially in the food world. He is the co-founder and CEO of Crumbl Cookies, a company that started with a small idea and grew into a big success across the United States. Many people love the cookies his company makes. But who is Jason McGowan, and why is his story so interesting?
This article will look at his life from his early days to becoming the leader of one of the fastest-growing franchises in the country.
Early Life and Background
Birth and Education
Jason McGowan was born on April 13, 1982, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. As a child, he was inspired by his dad, who ran a small airport shuttle business in Calgary. This gave Jason an early look at what it’s like to run a business. Jason didn’t follow the usual school path he left middle school early. Even though this might have seemed like a setback, it pushed him to learn on his own and work hard to reach success.
Immigration to the US
In his twenties, McGowan made a brave choice to move to the United States to chase the American Dream. He had only an 8th-grade education and had to sleep on a friend’s floor for months. Life was tough, but he didn’t give up. He taught himself how to design websites and got his first job for $800. That was the start of his journey as a business owner.
First Steps in Technology
McGowan started his career in the US working with technology. He created a Facebook app called “We’re Related,” which helped over 100 million people connect with their family history. He also worked at Ancestry, improving how users interact with the website, and helped build Nintendo TVii. These jobs helped him get better at creating products and understanding what users want, which helped him in his later work.
Entrepreneurial Beginnings
Before starting Crumbl Cookies, Jason McGowan was already successful in the tech world. He helped create a popular app called “We’re Related.” While working at Ancestry, he learned how to make things easy and enjoyable for users, which later helped him build Crumbl’s customer-friendly style. He also helped design Nintendo TVii, showing he could work on many types of tech projects. Because of his early success, BusinessQ Magazine named him one of their top 40 under 40 rising business stars.
The Birth of Crumbl Cookies
The Idea and Partnership with Sawyer Hemsley
Crumbl Cookies started in 2017. Two cousins, McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley, were talking about starting a delivery business because apps like DoorDash weren’t common yet. Their idea soon changed into opening a cookie bakery, even though they didn’t know how to bake. To save money, they picked a cheap place in Logan, Utah, that was going to be torn down soon.
Launching the First Store
Starting Crumbl was not easy. McGowan and Hemsley tried out recipes at home and had a hard time because they only had simple baking tools. When they opened their first store, they sold just one cookie – a milk chocolate chip cookie. They chose this flavor after doing a Twitter poll, where 70% of people liked it more than semi-sweet chocolate. Listening to customers like this became a big part of Crumbl’s success.
Marketing Strategies and Social Media Success
Crumbl grew very fast because of smart marketing, especially on social media. Sawyer Hemsley was good at branding and helped Crumbl become popular on Instagram and Facebook. But TikTok made Crumbl go viral, even getting more followers than big brands like Nike and Starbucks. Crumbl also started offering new cookie flavors every week, which made people excited to come back. Since the flavors change often and storage is limited, it made customers feel like they had to try them before they were gone.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Founding Year | 2017, Logan, Utah |
| First Cookie | Milk chocolate chip, chosen via Twitter poll |
| Social Media Impact | TikTok following surpassed Nike and Starbucks |
| Growth Milestone | Over 1,100 stores by 2025, no store failures |
Leadership and Vision at Crumbl
Role as CEO
Jason McGowan is the CEO of Crumbl and makes sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Sawyer Hemsley is the COO and looks after daily operations and marketing. They work well together as a team. Thanks to their leadership, Crumbl has grown to over 1,100 stores in almost every U.S. state, and none of the stores have closed—an impressive achievement in the busy food business.
Data-Driven Approach
McGowan’s experience with technology helps Crumbl use data to improve the business. The company collects customer opinions through surveys, social media, and its mobile app. This helps them check quality and learn what customers like. Store owners get live data, including cookie photos and ratings, to keep everything consistent. Using technology this way helps Crumbl keep customers happy and products high-quality.
Addressing Criticism
While many people praise McGowan’s leadership, Crumbl has been criticized for using eggs from hens kept in cages. Some customers and animal rights groups want the company to switch to cage-free eggs because they believe it’s more ethical. McGowan says Crumbl cares about people, but the company has not fully responded to these concerns, which are still an issue for some.
Recognition and Awards
Jason McGowan has achieved a lot as a business leader. In 2023, he won a big award called the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He was the first person from the Mountain West region to get this award. This shows that he is good at coming up with new ideas and leading in a tough business world. He helped grow Crumbl into one of the fastest-growing cookie franchises in the United States.
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year | 2023 | First from Mountain West region, recognized for Crumbl’s rapid growth |
| BusinessQ Magazine Top 40 Under 40 | Pre-2017 | Acknowledged early tech and entrepreneurial contributions |
Personal Life and Values
Jason McGowan is married to Whitney, who has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Technology. They value spending time with their family and often go on vacations together. In July 2021, Jason became a U.S. citizen and proudly shared the news. He likes to read and write in his free time, showing he enjoys learning new things. His life shows how important family, hard work, and personal growth are to him.
Recent Developments and Future Plans
Expansion and Partnerships
As of 2025, Crumbl Cookies has more than 1,100 stores and plans to open about 100 more this year, including some in Florida. The company has also made big partnerships, like becoming the official cookie of the Utah Jazz basketball team. Working with celebrities like Benson Boone to create special cookie flavors helps Crumbl stay popular and fun.
International Ambitions
McGowan wants to make Crumbl known all over the world. Some stores in other countries have already been sold, showing the company plans to grow outside the US. This growth is possible because Crumbl has a strong franchise system and loyal customers.
Recent Milestones
In 2025, Crumbl decided to stop using the word “Cookies” in its name. This was done to make the brand bigger and more general. McGowan often shares posts on social media, like when they opened their 1,000th store. This shows he is very involved as a leader and thankful for Crumbl’s success.
| Recent Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| 1,000th Store Opening | Celebrated in 2024, reflecting rapid expansion |
| Utah Jazz Partnership | Official cookie partner, announced in 2025 |
| Name Change | Dropped “Cookies” from brand name in 2025 |
FAQs
Jason McGowan was born in Canada and moved to the United States after finishing 8th grade. He taught himself how to design websites and worked on tech projects like “We’re Related.” Later, he helped start Crumbl Cookies.
Crumbl Cookies started in 2017. It was created by Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley in Logan, Utah. They opened one store at first. The business grew fast because of social media and new cookie flavors every week.
McGowan has led Crumbl to over 1,100 locations and received the 2023 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for his innovative leadership.
Conclusion
Jason McGowan dropped out of middle school in Canada, but he didn’t give up. Today, he is the CEO of Crumbl Cookies, a company worth billions. He changed the dessert business by focusing on what customers want and using smart technology. Some people have questioned how the company gets its ingredients, but McGowan still leads the company to grow fast and plans to expand around the world. His story shows that with hard work and the ability to adapt, anyone can succeed.