Neuro Gum & Mints
Functional chewing gum and mints for energy, focus, calm, and cognitive support, distributed DTC and retail.
Website: https://neurogum.com
Cover Block
| 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
- Website: https://neurogum.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getneuro
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
- [neurogum.com] About Neuro | https://neurogum.com/pages/about-neuro
- [innerbody.com] Neuro Gum Review | https://www.innerbody.com/neuro-gum-review
- [Instagram] Neuro Gum & Mints Shark Tank Post | https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVt1Se0kT8U/?hl=en
- [inc.com, 2026] Neuro Gum Revenue and Valuation | https://www.inc.com
- [celebinfomgz.com, 2026] Neuro Gum Projected Revenue | https://www.celebinfomgz.com
- [founderoo.co] Ryan Chen, Kent Yoshimura, & Neuro Gums | https://www.founderoo.co/playbooks/ryan-chen-kent-yoshimura-neuro-gums
- [celebhilights.com, 2026] Neuro Gum Seed Funding | https://www.celebhilights.com
- [LinkedIn] Neuro Company LinkedIn Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/getneuro
- [lvgea.org] Neuro Gum & Mints Chooses Southern Nevada | https://lvgea.org/doing-business-here/neuro-gum-mints-choses-southern-nevada/
- [Grand View Research, 2024] Global Dietary Supplements Market Report | https://www.grandviewresearch.com
- [Statista, 2024] Global Energy Drinks Market Data | https://www.statista.com
- [Nutrition Business Journal, 2023] U.S. Cognitive Health Supplements Market | https://www.nutritionbusinessjournal.com
Articles about Neuro Gum & Mints
- Neuro Gum's $10 Million Month Anchors a Functional Wedge in the Retail Checkout — The bootstrapped CPG brand, founded by two athletes, has convinced CVS and Walmart to stock its nootropic gum and mints.