A $60M Brand Is Revolutionizing Caffeine
By Kelli Luu | 05 Aug, 2025

Neurogum is the brainchild of two college pals with an inspiring startup story and a company changing the way we boost our brain.

Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen are the most interesting entrepreneurial duo in the caffeine game. They are the co-founders of Neuro and they're taking their brand everywhere from Amazon to Whole Foods to TikTok. 

The pair met while studying at UC San Diego. Yoshimura was a neuroscience graduate while Chen studied economics and chemistry. They bonded over a common lifestyle that involved academics and martial arts. 

In 2009 the two developed an even stronger friendship after Chen was involved in a snowboarding accident which left him paralyzed.  But that doesn’t stop him from being adventurous. 

During rehab after the accident, Yoshimura stuck by Chen’s side and in 2013 they were inspired to develop a functional caffeinated gum that could act as an alternative to energy drinks and coffee. 

They began experimenting with vitamins and supplements before launching in 2015 on Indiegogo, a crowdfunding platform, where they raised $20,000 in just a few days. Their concept was Neurogum. A gum infused with caffeine, L-theanine, and B-vitamins to help keep you focused and energized. 

Over the next few years, Yoshimura and Chen focused on perfecting the formula to optimize taste and effectiveness and packaging to create an aesthetically pleasing look. 

By 2018 Neurogum was found on shelves at places like CVS Pharmacy and Vitamin Shoppe. The brand saw major spikes in sales on Neurogum.com and Amazon after influencer shoutouts created social media buzz. 

At this time Yoshimura and Chen released NeuroMints which had a similar formula and by the end of 2019 Neuro hit $3.5 million in annual revenue. 

The duo appeared on season 11 of Shark Tank where they asked for $750k for 5% equity in Neuro. In the end, they didn't accept any of the shark’s offers and chose to maintain full control of their vision. While they didn't get a deal, Neuro received exceptional brand awareness as orders began to increase online immediately after the episode was aired. 

After the Shark Tank momentum, Yoshimura and Chen began dropping new flavors like peppermint and cinnamon and expanded into more stores like Target and 7-Eleven. In 2022 Neuro became a top-selling brand on TikTok Shop, and its virality pushed the brand to hit monthly revenues of $10 million. 

Today Neuro can be found in over 10,000 retail stores and on JetBlue flights. The duo continues to expand their brand by developing other functional products like Sleep and Calm mints. As of 2025 Neuro has an estimated value of over $60 million and Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen have turned their personal journey into a national brand. 

With millions of consistent sales and a growing product line, Neuro has changed the caffeine experience by making it more convenient than ever.