Neuro Gum & Mints

Functional chewing gum and mints for energy, focus, calm, and cognitive support, distributed DTC and retail.

Website: https://neurogum.com

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Attribute Value
Company Name Neuro Gum & Mints (GetNeuro)
Tagline Functional chewing gum and mints for energy, focus, calm, and cognitive support, distributed DTC and retail.
Headquarters Las Vegas, United States
Founded 2015
Stage Other
Business Model Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)
Industry E-commerce / Retail
Technology No Technology Component
Geography North America
Growth Profile Venture Scale
Founding Team Co-Founders (2)
Funding Label Undisclosed

Links

The Short Version

Neuro Gum & Mints has built a nine-figure revenue business by selling science-backed, functional chewing gum and mints directly to consumers and through national retail chains, demonstrating a rare bootstrapped growth trajectory in the crowded wellness space [neurogum.com]. Founded in 2015 by lifelong friends Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen, the company emerged from the founders' personal search for a clean, convenient alternative to coffee and energy drinks [neurogum.com]. The core product line, which includes Energy & Focus, Calm & Clarity, and Sleep & Recharge formulas, differentiates itself through specific, clinically relevant doses of ingredients like caffeine, L-theanine, and GABA, delivered in a sugar-free, aspartame-free format [innerbody.com].

While the company's appearance on Shark Tank in Season 11 provided a significant visibility boost, the deal did not close, and Neuro has since scaled largely through revenue funding and strategic retail expansion [Instagram]. Multiple secondary sources report monthly revenue averaging $10 million, with a projected annual run rate of approximately $120 million for 2026 [inc.com, celebinfomgz.com]. The founding team combines a creative, athletic background with operational focus. Over the next 12-18 months, the key watchpoints are the sustainability of retail velocity against established competitors, the defensibility of its formulation-based wedge, and whether the company pursues institutional capital to accelerate its next phase of growth. Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Revenue figures are widely cited but not from primary financial statements; founding story and product details are confirmed by company sources.

Taxonomy Snapshot

Axis Value
Stage Other
Business Model Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)
Industry / Vertical E-commerce / Retail
Technology Type No Technology Component
Geography North America
Growth Profile Venture Scale
Founding Team Co-Founders (2)

The Company in Brief

Neuro Gum & Mints began as a personal project between two lifelong friends, Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen, who launched the company in 2015 [neurogum.com]. The founding narrative centers on their shared experience as high-performing athletes and creatives seeking a clean, reliable source of functional energy and focus [neurogum.com]. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and operates under the legal name NeuroGum, Inc. [lvgea.org].

A pivotal moment for the brand came in 2019 with its appearance on Season 11 of the television show Shark Tank [neurogum.com]. While a deal was not ultimately closed, the national exposure is cited as a catalyst for significant retail expansion [neurogum.com]. Following this, Neuro secured distribution in major U.S. retail chains, including CVS, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Target [neurogum.com].

As of the latest public data, the company reports having between 51 and 200 employees [LinkedIn]. Its growth trajectory has been largely fueled by revenue and strategic retail partnerships rather than through widely disclosed venture capital rounds. Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Confirmed by company website, LinkedIn, and state economic development documentation.

What They Have Built

Neuro's core proposition is to deliver functional ingredients through a convenient, fast-absorbing oral format. The company's product line is segmented by intended cognitive effect, with each SKU built around a specific combination of nootropics and adaptogens. The Energy & Focus variants combine caffeine and L-theanine; the Calm & Clarity line uses GABA; and the Ideal State mints are formulated with melatonin and L-theanine [innerbody.com]. The company emphasizes that its formulations are sugar-free, aspartame-free, and vegan [neurogum.com].

Beyond ingredient selection, the primary differentiator is the delivery system. Chewing gum and mints allow for sublingual absorption, which the company suggests provides a steadier, more controlled release of active compounds compared to the rapid spike and crash associated with coffee or energy drinks [neurogum.com]. The company provides specific dosage information for key ingredients, such as 60-65 mg of L-theanine in its Energy & Focus gum and 130 mg of GABA in its Calm & Clarity gum [innerbody.com].

There is no public evidence of proprietary technology related to manufacturing, formulation, or delivery. The business appears to be a classic consumer packaged goods (CPG) play, with differentiation rooted in brand, formulation science, and retail execution. Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Product details and claims are confirmed by the company's own website and independent review publications.

Market Size and Demand

The functional gum and mint category has emerged as a discrete segment within the broader wellness and cognitive enhancement market. The global dietary supplements market was valued at approximately $177 billion in 2023, with the cognitive health supplement sub-segment representing a significant and growing portion [Grand View Research, 2024]. The company's primary market, the United States, accounts for roughly a third of global sales [Nutrition Business Journal, 2023].

Demand for products like Neuro's is propelled by the mainstreaming of biohacking, a growing aversion to sugar and artificial sweeteners, and a post-pandemic emphasis on mental wellness. The convenience factor of a gum or mint, which requires no preparation and offers rapid buccal absorption, is a key differentiator from pills or powders.

Key adjacent and substitute markets include the energy drink sector, valued at over $90 billion globally [Statista, 2024]. The regulatory environment, governed by the FDA's Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), allows for the sale of supplements containing ingredients like GABA and L-theanine, provided the company ensures product safety and label compliance.

Market Segment Estimated Size (2023/2024) Source
Global Dietary Supplements Market $177 billion [Grand View Research, 2024]
Global Energy Drinks Market $90+ billion [Statista, 2024]
U.S. Cognitive Health Supplements $4+ billion (estimated) [Nutrition Business Journal, 2023]

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Market sizing is based on analogous third-party reports for adjacent categories; no specific TAM for functional gum was located in cited sources.

Who Else Is Fighting for This

Neuro's competitive position is defined by a sharp focus on science-backed, functional gum and mints. The company operates in a fragmented segment populated by small specialists and adjacent products from large consumer packaged goods companies.

Company Positioning Stage / Funding Notable Differentiator
Neuro Gum & Mints Science-backed, nootropic gum/mints; zero sugar, aspartame-free, vegan. Undisclosed; $8.3M seed reported (2023). Omni-channel retail distribution; founder-led brand narrative.
Run Gum Energy gum for athletes, containing caffeine and B-vitamins. Private; founder-funded. Strong association with elite track & field.
Viter Energy Caffeinated mints and gum, marketed as a coffee alternative. Private. Focus on high caffeine content per piece.
Military Energy Gum Caffeine gum developed for and marketed to military personnel. Private. Niche focus on military and first responders.
WUG Functional Gums Functional gum with ingredients like vitamins, caffeine, and melatonin. Private. Broad functional claims across wellness.

Neuro's most defensible edge today is its retail footprint. Securing shelf space in national chains like CVS, Walmart, and Whole Foods represents a significant barrier to entry for newer brands [neurogum.com]. A second, softer edge is the founders' personal brand narrative, which blends athletic discipline, artistic creativity, and an interest in biohacking. Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Competitor data is based on public company positioning; funding and scale details for private competitors are not widely disclosed. Neuro's retail distribution is confirmed by its own materials.

Opportunity

If Neuro can convert its early retail velocity into a durable, brand-led consumer habit, the prize is a dominant position in a multi-billion dollar functional consumables category. The headline opportunity is to become the default, on-the-go nootropic for the mass market, displacing a portion of daily coffee and energy drink consumption.

Scenario What happens Catalyst Why it's plausible
Retail Channel Dominance Neuro becomes the top-selling functional gum in major drug and grocery chains. A successful launch in a new, high-volume retail category. The brand has already proven it can secure and maintain distribution in complex national retailers [neurogum.com].
International Expansion The company replicates its U.S. DTC and retail model in key international markets. A strategic partnership with a global distributor. The product's format is globally portable, and the wellness positioning has broad cross-cultural appeal.
Adjacent Category Launch Neuro leverages its brand trust to launch adjacent consumable formats. The introduction of a second major product form factor. The founders' narrative emphasizes creating solutions for "energy, focus, and cognitive support" [neurogum.com].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Growth scenarios and market size are analyst projections. The foundational revenue and retail distribution claims are supported by multiple publications.

Sources

  1. [neurogum.com] About Neuro | https://neurogum.com/pages/about-neuro
  2. [innerbody.com] Neuro Gum Review | https://www.innerbody.com/neuro-gum-review
  3. [Instagram] Neuro Gum & Mints Shark Tank Post | https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVt1Se0kT8U/?hl=en
  4. [inc.com, 2026] Neuro Gum Revenue and Valuation | https://www.inc.com
  5. [celebinfomgz.com, 2026] Neuro Gum Projected Revenue | https://www.celebinfomgz.com
  6. [founderoo.co] Ryan Chen, Kent Yoshimura, & Neuro Gums | https://www.founderoo.co/playbooks/ryan-chen-kent-yoshimura-neuro-gums
  7. [celebhilights.com, 2026] Neuro Gum Seed Funding | https://www.celebhilights.com
  8. [LinkedIn] Neuro Company LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/getneuro
  9. [lvgea.org] Neuro Gum & Mints Chooses Southern Nevada | https://lvgea.org/doing-business-here/neuro-gum-mints-choses-southern-nevada/
  10. [Grand View Research, 2024] Global Dietary Supplements Market Report | https://www.grandviewresearch.com
  11. [Statista, 2024] Global Energy Drinks Market Data | https://www.statista.com
  12. [Nutrition Business Journal, 2023] U.S. Cognitive Health Supplements Market | https://www.nutritionbusinessjournal.com

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