The reality is that many of those in the Armed Forces put their talent and dreams on hold while serving. That was the case for the CEO of 1UPYOURFLAVOR Sauce. The creation of 1UPYOURFLAVOR Sauce began on numerous Army installations when Calvin (Cal) Allen was serving on Active Duty. After perfecting the sauce, he shared it with friends and family at casual neighborhood get-togethers and birthday parties at each of his new duty stations. As fellow service members changed duty stations they often reached out and requested the sauce. It was in those moments, in his humble beginnings, Cal’s realization of having an authentic sauce registered.

Shortly after retiring from the Army, Cal went to work at becoming an entrepreneur. He enrolled in Texas A&M University’s EBV (Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans). After completing the program, Cal began applying what he learned. He designed his label, started funding, and making the sauce, and bottling, labeling, and selling it online. Cal continues to find a balance between working as a full-time entrepreneur and full-time government employee with the hope of one day devoting himself fully to building his business and bringing his vision of making 1UPYOURFLAVOR Sauce a household name.