Two college friends turned down Shark Tank investors in 2020, keeping full control of their nootropic gum company. Five years later, that decision looks brilliant. Neuro now pulls in over $10 million monthly and carries a valuation exceeding $100 million.
Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen built the Las Vegas-based business from a college dorm experiment into a functional gum brand stocked in 10,000 retail stores. Their story shows how a televised rejection became a launching pad instead of a setback.
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From Dorm Room to Distribution
Yoshimura and Chen met as student-athletes at UC San Diego in the early 2010s. Yoshimura competed internationally in Judo while studying cognitive science. Chen, paralyzed from the waist down after a 2009 snowboarding accident, studied chemistry while training for Paralympic scuba diving.
Both hated energy drinks but needed caffeine for training and studying. They started mixing nootropic supplements in Yoshimura’s apartment, eventually creating a gum formula containing caffeine from green tea, L-theanine, and B vitamins.
They launched Neuro in 2015 after a successful Indiegogo campaign. The product worked faster than pills or drinks because active ingredients absorb through mouth tissue in 5 to 10 minutes.
The Shark Tank Pitch
By early 2019, when the pair filmed their Shark Tank appearance for Season 11, Neuro had gained traction. They reported $3.5 million in annual revenue, with $1.5 million coming from Amazon and online sales. The company had just entered 5,500 CVS stores nationwide.
Manufacturing costs ran $0.67 per pack, which retailed for $3.99. The margins looked strong, but the founders needed capital for retail expansion.
They walked into the tank asking for $750,000 for 5% equity, valuing their company at $15 million. The Sharks had questions about the valuation and competitive threats in the supplement space.
Robert Herjavec offered $1 million for 20% of the company.
Kevin O’Leary countered with $750,000 for 5% plus a royalty of $0.50 per unit sold until he recouped $1 million.
Yoshimura and Chen declined both offers. They wanted to maintain ownership and believed their company was worth more than the deals reflected.
The episode aired April 10, 2020.
Explosive Growth Without Shark Money
Website traffic surged 300% within days of the broadcast. Sales spiked hard enough to crash the company’s servers multiple times. The Shark Tank exposure delivered millions in free advertising without any equity dilution.
One month later, something unexpected happened. Joe Rogan mentioned Neuro on The Joe Rogan Experience in May 2020. “I love it,” he told listeners. “I take it before I do kickboxing workouts.”
Website traffic jumped 20 times overnight. The company’s PR firm, Jack Taylor, had sent Rogan product samples, but there was no sponsorship deal. Rogan genuinely liked the gum.
Over the next five years, Rogan mentioned Neuro more than 10 times on his podcast. In January 2024, he told comedian Bobby Lee his team goes through four or five boxes monthly. Each mention drove another wave of sales.
Building a Nine-Figure Business
The revenue trajectory tells the story:
2019: $3.5 million (at time of Shark Tank filming)
2023: $12 million annually, with over 50 million pieces sold
2024: $50 million valuation, approaching $10 million annual revenue
2025-2026: $100+ million valuation, over $10 million monthly revenue
In February 2023, Neuro raised $8.3 million in seed funding from multiple investors. The round came after the company had already proven its model worked at scale.
TikTok became another growth channel. A viral video showing Rogan’s endorsement hit 5.3 million views, triggering a cascade of creator content. By the end of 2024, Neuro was named TikTok Shop’s fastest-growing brand.
The company now operates in over 10,000 retail locations:
- CVS (5,500+ stores)
- Walmart
- Target
- Whole Foods
- Meijer
- Vitamin Shoppe
- JetBlue flights
Amazon remains a cornerstone channel. Neuro consistently ranks as the top seller in its category on the platform.
Product Expansion and Manufacturing
The original Energy & Focus gum spawned a product line. Neuro added Calm & Clarity and Sleep formulations, all available as both gum and mints. Everything is vegan, sugar-free, and aspartame-free.
Manufacturing uses a patented cold-compression process designed to preserve ingredient potency. The company expanded operations in Nevada, receiving state tax abatements in 2025 to support growth.
Overcoming Legal Threats
Success brought challenges. After Shark Tank aired, a woman filed suit attempting to seize Neuro’s trademark. The legal battle threatened bankruptcy for the young company.
Daniel Lubetzky stepped in. The KIND bars founder and billionaire investor, who appeared as a guest Shark on their episode, provided legal backing for 18 months. Neuro won the case.
What the Founders Built
Yoshimura serves as CEO. Chen handles CFO duties. Both made Forbes 30 Under 30. Their combined personal wealth sits between $15 million and $25 million, according to industry estimates.
They maintained majority ownership through every funding round. Total capital raised through 2025 amounts to $10.3 million, per PitchBook data. Compare that to the equity they would have surrendered on Shark Tank.
The functional gum market keeps growing as consumers shift away from sugary energy drinks. Neuro captured early market share and built brand recognition that competitors struggle to match.
The Numbers That Matter
Walking away from Shark Tank investment meant keeping control when the business took off. The exposure alone drove enough sales to fund growth without giving up 20% equity or accepting per-unit royalties.
Five years after saying no to the Sharks, Neuro Gum’s worth reflects a bet that paid off. The company went from $15 million valuation to over $100 million while the founders retained ownership of what they built in a college apartment.
