Founded in 2022, realsy is the wholesome, farm-to-shelf nut butter-filled date snack made with only 4 nutritious ingredients. The brand was founded by 29-year-olds Austin Patry and Sophia Karboswki, after the two struggled to find snacks on the shelves at their local grocery stores that were not only healthy but also tasty, portable, cleanly made + minimally processed. Thus, the idea to locally source dates + use clean ingredients like cacao and almond butter to make something simple and tasty… was born.
Co-Founder Austin Patry was raised in the bustling kitchens of French dining. His father and grandparents immigrated from France to the U.S. to open a small French restaurant in Dallas. At the restaurant, Austin cut baguettes, washed dishes, and learned to appreciate farmers and food sources. In contrast, his mother pursued a career as a Vedic Astrologer and was an original Southwest Airlines flight attendant, instilling in Austin the significance of nutrition, exercise, and overall well-being from a young age. This unique perspective gave Austin an open mind, exemplary work ethic, and inspired his entrepreneurial journey. His initial ventures spanned from selling Pokémon cards to classmates in middle school to eventually co-founding and selling a national chain of health food cafés on college campuses with Sophia Karbowski, employing hundreds of students before selling it for a seven-figure deal.
Co-Founder Sophia Karbowski learned about nutrition at the early age of 8 years old when her younger brother was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and then Celiac disease 3 years later. Both are conditions in which learning to read and decipher the nutrition label and ingredient list of foods is a necessity, so Sophia took it upon herself to learn completely how to properly care for a diabetic and celiac child. She also comes from a family of could-be chefs, with her father’s Italian-focused cooking and her maternal grandma’s, who moved from the Middle East in her 20s, Mediterranean cooking. Cooking and enjoying a delicious variety of home-cooked meals were a staple of Sophia’s childhood growing up. But her personal health and wellness journey began in high school and college when she began paying closer attention to specific ingredients in the food she was eating and learning about how they affect your body from the inside out.
Tell us about the idea for realsy – what gap did you see in the CPG market?
SK: Austin and I met in college while studying entrepreneurship, when we decided we made a pretty good team as business partners. That’s when we launched our first business, Rollin’ n Bowlin’, which we grew from a single smoothie food truck to 10 health food cafes on college campuses nationwide.
When the pandemic forced us to temporarily shut down our business, we pivoted to packaging and shipping our smoothie recipes, which introduced us to the CPG world, and we instantly fell in love with the industry. Both Austin and I are passionate about health and wellness, and we’ve always prioritized eating clean, nutritious foods. But as we traveled frequently for business, we realized how difficult it was to find a truly healthy, on-the-go snack made with real, recognizable ingredients.
At the time, filled dates with nut butters and chocolate were trending, but we noticed that all packaged versions required refrigeration or freezing. That’s where the idea for realsy was born, out of the need for a delicious, convenient, and genuinely good-for-you snack that could be shelf-stable without compromising on quality.
You were both listed as Forbes’ 30 Under 30 founders for 2024. This is an incredible accomplishment – what does this mean for you both and the brand?
AP: We were beyond thrilled to be named Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in the Food & Beverage category last year. Sophia and I have been entrepreneurs since 2017, and we’ve worked incredibly hard to grow our businesses while staying committed to creating products that people can feel good about putting into their bodies.
This recognition is not just a personal milestone, it’s validation that we’re on the right track and building something meaningful. Our goal has always been to make healthy, high-quality options more accessible, and this honor reinforces our mission and motivates us to keep pushing forward.
What can fans of the brand expect from realsy in 2025?
AP & SK: 2025 is going to be an exciting year for realsy! We’re focused on expanding into more grocery stores and making our snacks even more accessible to customers nationwide. You’ll start seeing realsy in more retailers, both in the produce section and beyond, as we continue to grow.
In addition to expanding our retail presence, we’re also working on new product innovations that stay true to our mission of making delicious, convenient, and genuinely good-for-you snacks made with real, recognizable ingredients. We can’t share too much just yet, but fans can definitely expect new ways to enjoy realsy in the near future!
What has been the most rewarding part of this entrepreneurial journey for you both?
AP: For both of us the most rewarding part of this journey has been seeing how much people genuinely love and appreciate realsy. Hearing from customers who tell us that our snacks have become their go-to healthy treat or that they finally found something that fits their lifestyle makes all the hard work worth it.
SK: Building a business from the ground up is never easy, but knowing that we’re creating something that not only tastes amazing but also aligns with our values of health and wellness is incredibly fulfilling. We’ve also been lucky to share this journey as business partners and friends, which makes every milestone, even the small wins, feel that much more meaningful.
Anything else to add?
AP: We’re incredibly proud of the momentum realsy has gained, and we’re just getting started! According to NielsenIQ data, realsy is the #1 fastest-growing brand in the dried fruit and nut category in the country, which is an amazing testament to the demand for clean, delicious, and convenient snacks.
SK: It’s been an incredible journey so far, and we’re beyond excited for what’s ahead, expanding into more stores, launching new products, and continuing to make better-for-you snacking easier and more accessible for everyone.
