Our Founders
Abdullah Mustafa
Abdul was born in Saudi Arabia to Turkish parents and has lived in several countries, making him a seasoned world traveler. While growing up, he enjoyed watching sports but preferred not to participate. Abdul holds a B.A. in Supply Chain Management and an MBA from Willamette University. His athletic journey began in college with Judo and weightlifting. In 2012, Abdul moved to the United States, where he discovered his passion for endurance sports. His first significant endurance race was the Swift Summit, which ignited his love for the sport. Abdul has participated in and won several bikepacking races, including the Odyssey of the VOG, Stagecoach 400, FITZ-JOY 400, and he previously held the FKT for the Oregon Outback. In 2024, Abdul embarked on his ultra-running journey by completing the Mary’s Peak 50 miler, and Hood 100.
Heather Chase
Heather is a lifelong potato lover, casual runner and bike commuter, and a licensed mental health therapist in Oregon & Washington State. She was born in Oregon, but moved often, growing up in several states. She returned to Oregon to study at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, earning a BFA in 2011. With an interest in working with others and serving her community she earned an MA in Art Therapy & Counseling from Marylhurst University. Besides Tater Boost, Heather is the owner of a small private practice specializing in treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Outside of work she loves to travel, is a foodie, and is a very serious gardener.
How did we create Tater Boost?
We found each other
We met in Salem, OR through mutual friends. It took us a few dates to see how compatible we were. We’re different in many ways, but we bonded over three things: our love for the outdoors, travel, and food. Heather worked as a therapist and a clinical director at a local mental health clinic, while Abdul was managing a U.S. government contracting company. We often entertained entrepreneurial ideas, and it always came down to something involving adventure and food.
We seized the opportunity
"I feel like there's a gap in the market," Abdul said, the MBA snob. "Why isn’t there a savory potato-based product for endurance athletes? It feels like a company named Potato Boost should be out there." That’s when Heather, with a spark of brilliance, said, "Why not Tater Boost?!"
Abdul, puzzled, asked, "What’s a Tater?" And if you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings, you know exactly what scene played in our heads. We bought the domain name right away and started experimenting with mashed potato (aka Tater Boost) recipes, consulting with friends, and working with the Food Innovation Center and Moto. We almost emptied our savings account, but we believed more and more in the Tater Boost idea.
After two years of working behind the scenes, we soft-launched Tater Boost in 2023. In a nutshell, that's how Tater Boost came to be, born from our shared passions and a little bit of goofy inspiration.
We had the right conditions for discovery
Abdul’s contracting job was flexible, allowing him to train and participate in long endurance events. Meanwhile, Heather was looking for a change from her job and dreamed of opening her own private practice. One day in early 2021, while hanging out in our living room, we were bouncing business ideas around as usual. Abdul complained about getting palate fatigue during his long endurance adventures and races. He noticed how he craved savory, healthy, potato-based foods and saw that friends and other racers loved consuming chips or mashed potatoes after hour six of an endurance event.
