Our Story

Told by our co-founders, Austin and Sophia.

Click the drop-down arrows to read the full story!

The  Beginning

We met our senior year in college at Texas Christian University while conveniently studying entrepreneurship. We quickly became friends and bonded over a common interest for health, wellness and food.

 

So much so, that we started a health-food food truck called Rollin' n Bowlin' together serving açaí bowls, smoothies and avocado toast while still in school! Post-graduation, we ran the food truck every single day like a restaurant and posted up right by a local gym near campus. This was both of our full-time jobs!

The Beginning

We met our senior year in college at Texas Christian University while conveniently studying entrepreneurship. We quickly became friends and bonded over a common interest for health, wellness and food.

So much so, that we decided to start a business our senior year, and opened a health food truck called Rollin' n Bowlin' serving açaí bowls, smoothies and avocado toast right when we graduated. We ran the food truck every single day like a restaurant and posted up right by a local gym near campus. We hired students and formed a team. This was both of our full-time jobs!

The Growth

Our concept quickly became popular with TCU students and after a year in the food truck, we opened a brick-and-mortar storefront in TCU's recreation center.

 

It was trial by fire, but we managed to make it work and quickly recognized that the need for healthier food was widespread across college campuses nationwide. After about 4 years in business, we opened 10 storefront locations across the country including Tulane New Orleans, Notre Dame, University of Denver, Loyola Chicago and many more.

Growing Healthy Vibes

Our concept quickly became so popular with TCU students that after a year in the food truck, we opened a brick-and-mortar storefront on TCU's campus inside their recreation center.

It was trial by fire, but we managed to make it work and quickly recognized that the need for healthier food on college campuses was bigger than just TCU - but nationwide. Fast forward 4 years into Rollin' n Bowlin', and we had opened 10 storefront locations across the country on campuses like Tulane, Notre Dame, SMU, University of Denver, Loyola Chicago and more.

The COVID Crash

It was an incredibly exciting time continuing our growth, as we employed about 150 students, and it felt like we really caught lightning in a bottle! Then, in March 2020, it all screeched to a halt.

 

Students were on spring break and Universities began announcing that they would shut down due to COVID. Students would not return indefinitely, and our business went to absolute zero. We were locked out of our own stores with no backup options (take-out, delivery, etc) or customer base.

The COVID Crash

Then, in March 2020, our storefronts had to temporarily shut down as the COVID Pandemic hit. This all happened suddenly, within a matter of 2-3 crazy days. With all of our locations on college campuses, students were sent home and we were literally locked out of our stores, without access to even do pickup or delivery orders. It was WILD.

We couldn't sit still. We wanted to figure out how our customers could still enjoy our açaí bowls and smoothies, but now in their homes instead of our stores. 

 

The Pivot

With our backs against the wall, we launched our storefront's frozen smoothie recipes into single serve pouches and began to ship out with dry ice across the country.

 

We quickly discovered the challenges of handling frozen products, but we fell in love with the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. It was trial by fire, and we learned that we wanted to launch something shelf-stable that we could more easily ship and scale up.

The Pivot

With our backs against the wall, we acted fast and launched the frozen smoothie recipes from our stores into single serve pouches and began to ship out with dry ice across the country. We built a subscription platform on our website and launched this new business in less than 2 months.

We quickly discovered the challenges of handling frozen products, but we fell in love with the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. It was trial by fire, and we learned that we wanted to launch something shelf-stable that we could grow more quickly to make clean eating even more accessible!

realsy is Born

We wanted to create a snack that was nutrient-dense, delicious and convenient with no additives (seed oils, natural flavorings, fillers, etc).

 

We would often end up in the produce aisle and nut butter aisle to make our own snack. At this time of testing ideas for new shelf-stable snack products, we also saw Medjool dates with nut butters (aka "a healthy Snickers") blow up on social media. The issue was that it was a mess to make and you couldn't transport it.

 

So we changed that and created a product that we wanted.

realsy Is Born

Our goal was to create a snack that was nutrient-dense, delicious, convenient, and free of harmful additives that we were seeing used in so many "health" products (seed oils, natural flavorings, fillers, refined sugars, etc).

We would often end up in the produce aisle and nut butter aisle to make our own snack. At this time of testing ideas for our new shelf-stable snack, we also saw Medjool dates with nut butters (aka a "healthy Snickers") blow up on social media. The issue was that it was a mess to make and you couldn't transport it.

So we changed that and created a product that we wanted.

Going All In

At this point, our cafés re-opened and our smoothie pouches were gaining distribution in retailers across the country, but we realized that we needed focus.

 

We were so certain of our nut butter dates product that we sold the café business, shut down the frozen smoothie line and went all in on realsy. It was an incredibly stressful time, but a change that we both knew needed to happen.

 

We immediately flew to our new network of farmers to meet them face to face and a goal to improve our recipes, manufacturing and supply chain.

Going All In

At this point, our cafés re-opened and our smoothie pouches were gaining distribution in retailers across the country, but we realized that we needed focus. We were literally running 3 businesses at ONCE.

We were so certain of our nut butter dates that we sold our campus storefronts business, shut down the frozen smoothie line and went all in on realsy. It was an incredibly stressful time, but a change that we both knew needed to happen.

We then immediately made connections with a network of farmers and flew to meet them face to face, with a goal to improve our recipes and manufacturing processes and consolidate our supply chain.

Keepin' It realsy

Over time, our business has evolved substantially, but our mission has remained the same.

 

We strive to provide nutritionally dense and delicious snacks to people who believe food should be how nature really intended. We take it past better-for-you to create genuinely GOOD-for-you snacking. Think: ingredients as simple as fresh produce – but exciting, novel, and uber easy to take with you wherever you might be headed. 

 

Our commitment to using real ingredients in every product we offer you is unwavering, and we can tell you that for realsy.

 

Students were on spring break and Universities began announcing that they would shut down due to COVID. Students would not return indefinitely, and our business went to absolute zero. We were locked out of our own stores with no backup options (take-out, delivery, etc) or customer base.

Keepin' it realsy

Over time, our business has evolved substantially, but our mission and focus has remained the same.

We strive to provide nutritionally-dense and delicious snacks to people who believe food should be how nature really intended. We take it past better-for-you to create genuinely GOOD-for-you snacking. Think: ingredients as simple as fresh produce – but exciting, novel, and uber easy to take with you wherever you might be headed. 

Our commitment to using real ingredients in every product we offer you is unwavering, and we can tell you that for realsy.

Our Mission

We strive to make real delicious, real nutritious snacks, that take it a step past better-for-you, but genuinely GOOD-for-you snacking.

 

To provide nutritionally dense and delicious snacks to people who believe food should be how nature really intended. Put simply: keep it realsy.

 

Think of ingredients as simple as fresh produce – but exciting, novel, and uber easy to take with you wherever you might be headed.

spread healthy vibes

Follow along our journey @eatrealsy