Stephen Montoya
When you’re sitting in a college classroom at TCU, you never quite know where the friendships you’re making will lead. For Austin Patry and Sophia Karbowski, their shared passion for health and wellness not only led them to become friends, but also business partners — and now, two of the newest members of “Forbes' 30 Under 30.”
It was just a few years ago, in a senior-year entrepreneurship class, that Patry and Karbowski first crossed paths. At the time, they had no idea that their partnership would eventually take them from brainstorming in lecture halls to running a nationwide business.
Their story began humbly.
After graduating in 2017, the pair embarked on a mission to introduce a healthier snack option to the Fort Worth area by launching Rollin’ n Bowlin’, a food truck offering acai bowls packed with fresh ingredients. It was the perfect fit for a college community, and the response was immediate.
“We started small,” says Karbowski, “with a food truck at TCU’s student union, hoping to gauge if people would even be into the concept.”
It wasn’t long before they found their idea was resonating with their peers. The food truck began attracting long lines at TCU, with students flocking for an alternative to typical fast-food options. But it wasn’t just students who noticed. TCU’s administration reached out, offering them a chance to open up shop inside the student recreation center, a major turning point in their budding business.
But Patry and Karbowski weren’t content with stopping at campus food stalls. They knew they had something bigger on their hands. After a successful run at TCU, the duo started expanding, first opening several other locations nationwide on college campuses. As they grew, they quickly realized that to reach even more people, they needed to expand in a way that many other startups might not have considered.
Rather than focusing exclusively on direct-to-consumer sales, they chose to hone in on wholesale and retail distribution — a move that would later help them rise in the competitive landscape of food startups. Their brand, Realsy, which officially launched in 2022, began filling a different niche within the healthy snack market. Featuring dates stuffed with almond or peanut butter, their products are now on shelves at retailers like Central Market and Wegmans, in American Airlines Admirals Clubs throughout Texas and Tennessee, and are set to launch in over 70 airport convenience stores nationwide in January.
For the two, the pivot to working directly with farmers and focusing on retail was about more than just profits. It was about ensuring their mission —creating accessible, delicious, and healthy food — remained at the heart of everything they did.
In December of 2024, Patry and Karbowski received an email that confirmed their status as two of the brightest young entrepreneurs in the country: “Forbes” had included them on their coveted “30 Under 30" list.
Their excitement was palpable.
“We really didn’t know we were on the list until it came out,” Karbowski says. “But we had a feeling. This year, we really pushed for nominations and worked closely with ‘Forbes,’ sharing all the details about where we were in our growth.”
The couple’s perseverance, especially in terms of sales, played a pivotal role in earning them the recognition. But what truly sets their success apart is their unwavering commitment to innovation and transparency.
“We’re always looking for ways to get closer to the source of our ingredients,” Karbowski verifies. “We work directly with the farmers, and that’s a big part of how we operate.”
In 2025, they expect to continue their rapid growth, with plans to expand their footprint even further in both the retail and food service sectors. They’re also laser-focused on refining their supply chain and logistics, ensuring they’re able to meet the increased demand.
For anyone looking to follow in their footsteps, Patry and Karbowski’s advice is simple but powerful: just start.
“You don’t need a huge business plan to begin with,” she says. “Take that first step. Don’t be afraid to talk about your idea either. People can offer you feedback you never expected.”
Their journey may have started with an acai bowl food truck, but it’s clear that their future will be filled with even bigger goals — and a lot more success.
For now, Patry and Karbowski are content to ride the momentum of their “Forbes 30 Under 30” recognition, but their eyes are already set on what’s next.
“We weren't shy about promoting our business,” Karbowski says. “We talked to literally anyone from the Kroger checkout employees when we were buying pounds and pounds of bananas for recipe testing to business owners in Fort Worth. We told the masses what we wanted to do, and that gave us so many ideas.”