From the frenetic world of music to the fiery realm of hot sauce, Artie Pitt ’01 has never been afraid to dive into something new. A Pittsburgh native, Pitt prefers to follow his instincts, and more often than not, it leads to success.
As a history major and creative writing minor at Allegheny, Pitt didn’t just hit the books, he got involved. He wrote a weekly sports column for The Campus, covering everything from intramurals to national sports. He played intramural football and basketball, and, by his own admission, was “the greatest party promoter on Loomis Street of all time.”
I had a lot of creative freedom at Allegheny,” Pitt says. “That freedom helped me develop discipline and accountability, way more than I had in high school. My professors trusted me, and the small classes gave me room to grow. Honestly, Allegheny is a great place for someone who wants to become an entrepreneur.
And an entrepreneur he became, many times over.
Pitt started off in real estate appraisal while working on his master’s in fine arts in creative writing during the evenings at Chatham University. It wasn’t long before life took an exciting turn.
“In 2004, I felt like Pittsburgh didn’t have the kind of opportunities I was looking for,” he recalls. “Then a childhood friend in New York introduced me to this lanky 16-year-old Pittsburgh rapper named Wiz Khalifa, and I just knew. That meeting changed everything.”
Soon, Pitt was in New York, diving into the music business. Alongside his friend, he co-founded Rostrum Records and helped shake up the industry.
“We didn’t rush it. We built things indie-style, and it worked,” Pitt says. “Wiz, Mac Miller, we helped create a movement. We made the music world more digital, more independent, more accessible. It was wild, nonstop, 24/7.”
After more than a decade of high-speed success, Pitt stepped away from music and co-founded a California cannabis start-up that did everything from cultivation to packaging to delivery before returning to his roots in Pittsburgh. That’s where his newest venture, and possibly his spiciest, was born: Artie’s Hot Sauce.
“I started making hot sauce in my kitchen just as a brain exercise,” he says with a laugh. “Next thing I knew, people were raving about it, and a business was born.”
Artie’s Hot Sauce, launched in 2023, now features 12 unique flavors, with names as bold as the sauces themselves, plus a line of spicy pickles. His best-seller? Pizza Shop, a tangy banana pepper sauce that works like a mild, zesty condiment on just about anything.
“I like pairing bold flavors with catchy names,” Pitt says. “And I’m just getting started.”
Under the broader banner of “Artie’s Aisle,” Pitt plans to add more products soon: think dressings, seasonings, and eventually even a brick-and-mortar retail space. For now, he sells about 1,000 bottles a month online, at local farmers’ markets, and at culinary events.
Pitt’s homegrown hustle hasn’t been a solo journey. In fact, several fellow Gators have joined him along the way.
One of the best parts of Allegheny are the friendships,” he says. “Real, lasting friendships that turn into real-life partnerships.
Josh Schachter ’00, an Allegheny graduate and a childhood friend, invested in the record label years ago. Today, three more Allegheny graduates are co-owners in Artie’s Hot Sauce: Scott Swinchock ’01, Bernie McGuinness ’01, and Michael Colbert ’02.
“When he contacted me about getting involved in Artie’s Hot Sauce, I honestly didn’t have to put much thought into it,” says McGuinness. “My only hesitation was taking the risk of mixing business with friendship. But from an opportunity standpoint, the chance to partner with Artie and help build a business from the ground up was a no brainer. Artie is one of the most genuine people I know. If he tells me something is a passion project, I don’t doubt him.”
“I couldn’t ask for better partners,” Pitt says. “We’ve got the perfect team, and a shared history that makes this even more special.”
