Season 2, Ep. 8 | Beyond Extra Virgin: The Art and Grit Behind Wildly Virgin

In this episode of More Elephant, we sit down with Riley Gibson and Nader Akhnoukh, the founders of Wildly Virgin — a small-batch Portuguese olive oil producer and recent Gold Medal Winner at the prestigious New York International Olive Oil Competition [NYIOOC] world olive oil competition.

Beloved by customers, top chefs, and olive oil experts, Wildly Virgin was born from burnout, curiosity, and a desire to do work that feels real again. What started as two tech founders craving something tangible led them deep into Portugal’s ancient groves and into relationships with families who still make olive oil the traditional way.

We talk about how they each fell down the olive oil rabbit hole and uncovered one of the world’s best-kept secrets: Portugal produces extraordinary olive oil that most Americans have never tasted. Riley and Nader walk our audience through the reality behind the industry, what it takes to import something handmade into the U.S., and the challenge of honoring the farmers, the craft, and the land while building a brand from scratch.

At its core, their journey is about starting small, following curiosity, and choosing work that brings joy. Nader and Riley source directly from Portugal’s top small-batch producers—farmers they know personally, who obsess over soil health, harvest timing, and varietal character. These makers don’t just produce olive oil—they live it. No middlemen. No mass production. Just authentic relationships and exceptional oils.

If you’ve ever wondered what a real, purpose-led pivot looks like — one rooted in craft, connection, and a little bit of magic — this episode is exactly that.

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Show Notes

Nader Akhnoukh is the co-founder and CEO of Wildly Virgin, a brand dedicated to delivering small-batch, traceable extra virgin olive oil from the wild lands of Portugal to discerning customers around the world. A former tech entrepreneur, Nader’s passion for exceptional olive oil began after relocating his family to Portugal, where he immersed himself in the country’s rich olive growing traditions and earned training from ESAO, the world’s oldest specialized olive oil school. His deep appreciation for flavor, quality, and authenticity drives Wildly Virgin’s mission to celebrate the people, places, and stories behind every harvest. Nader believes that olive oil shouldn’t just be an ingredient — it should be an experience.

Riley Gibson is co-founder of Wildly Virgin and brings his entrepreneurial leadership to the forefront of the brand’s growth and identity. Together with Nader, Riley set out to redefine how olive oil is experienced by focusing on small-batch production, full transparency, and direct relationships with independent Portuguese producers. His commitment to storytelling, quality, and craftsmanship has helped shape Wildly Virgin into a brand that honors traditional methods while inviting customers to discover the “magic” of authentic extra virgin olive oil. Riley’s vision is rooted in sustainability, connection, and the belief that extraordinary products come from people with real passion and purpose.

Key More Elephant Takeaways in this Episode:

• Discover how Wildly Virgin prioritizes quality, transparency, and storytelling—offering olive oil that’s not only delicious but also rich in health benefits, thanks to early harvests and careful production.

• Why most olive oil isn’t what you think it is — and how Portugal protects the real thing

• The founders explain their leap from building software to importing and bottling olive oil, highlighting the challenges and joys of sourcing directly from small Portuguese farmers with centuries-old traditions.

• …and more

More About Wildly Virgin: wildlyvirgin.com | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | X | TikTok | LinkedIn

LinkedIn: Riley Gibson | Nader Akhnoukh

Transcript

More Elephant Intro

[00:00:38] Jason Rudman: My guests today on the More Elephant podcast are two entrepreneurs that are rethinking how we think about that beautiful food item called olive oil. 

Riley Gibson and Nader Akhnoukh are in two different continents trying to rethink how small artisanal batch production of olive oil will change how we cook, how we think about a different part of the world, and indeed different paths to entrepreneurship in this world that we call More Elephant.

So Riley, Nader, welcome to the podcast.

[00:01:16] Riley Gibson: Thanks for having us.
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