How two TCU alumni made Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for 2025
Austin Patry has dreamed of being on the Forbes Food and Drink list since high school.
He grew up in Dallas at French restaurants where his father and grandpa worked as chefs, so he always knew he wanted to work with food.
The same goes for his business partner, Sophia Karbowski. Her brother grew up with Type 1 diabetes and has celiac. From a young age, Karbowski would read nutrition labels and pay attention to what ingredients were in the food she ate.
Patry and Karbowski’s wishes were granted when they made the 2025 Forbes 30 under 30 list together, with their “farm to fresh” snack company, Realsy.
Realsy’s journey to Forbes recognition
In 2017, Patry and Karbowski were seniors at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. They started their first business in a food truck called Rollin’ n Bowlin’.
“We wanted to bring healthy food to TCU and to Fort Worth,” Karbowski said. “So we thought, ‘What do they not have a lot of?’ It was acai bowls and smoothies at that point.”
Rollin’ n Bowlin’ was a hit among TCU students. Karbowski estimated that about 75% of their business was coming from the college campus. So, they expanded to 10 other campuses across the country.
But then COVID hit.
Rollin’ n Bowlin’ locations were all on college campuses. Campuses were getting shut down, so students went home, which meant no business. Karbowski and Party actually couldn’t even access their shops.
What mattered now was how they were going to pivot their business.
The two then created consumer-packaged goods — frozen smoothie packs — as a solution to store shutdowns.
“We also launched dates with nut butters, because it was lightweight, shelf stable — a lot better of a product overall — to scale, versus the frozen smoothies,” Patry said. “And at the same time, it was a healthy snack that is super nutrient-dense that we love.”
Then came Realsy.
The frozen smoothie packs came with logistical and cost issues that weren’t sustainable in the long run, so their smoothie business was let go. Then, an opportunity that was too good to pass up came from a company called Shake Smart, who proposed to buy the TCU Rollin’ n Bowlin’ location.
Karbowski and Patry are now able to dedicate their time and attention fully to their consumer-packaged goods company, Realsy and their stuffed nut butter dates.
Realsy is expected to close out 2025 at $1.5 million in revenue and is estimating $8 million in sales for 2025. The two partners see an opportunity to grow their company with more produce-based snacks.
About Realsy’s snacks
Pre-packaged snacks are nothing new. However, the ingredients in Realsy’s nut butter dates are what stands out. Nut butter dates have been a trend on social media, especially TikTok, for years now. Karbowski saw an opening in the market to create a pre-packaged, ready-to-eat snack that people would spend so much money, time and mess on making.
“Our goal with Realsy is to always use super-simple ingredients so that you can break each ingredient apart on the label and imagine holding it in your hand,” Karbowski said.
Karbowski and Patry both travel to various farms in person to see and taste their ingredients. In fact, their website outlines where they source all their produce.
Almond butter-filled dates
Peanut butter-filled dates
Chocolate peanut butter-filled dates
The snacks are sold at Central Market, United, Wegmans, Safeway, Giant Eagle, Fresh Thyme, Juice Press or on their website.
As for the future, Realsy looks forward to growing into more flavors, products and the possibility of pop up events — maybe even in Fort Worth.
“I will admit we love Fort Worth and TCU, who has always supported us, so we’re grateful to be a part of of this and excited to see how we grow and how Fort Worth grows,” Patry said.
What is the Forbes 30 under 30 list?
Forbes compiles a list annually to announce the most successful business owners who are under 30 years old.
“Forbes editors worked with expert judges to review more than 10,000 candidates, evaluating them on impact, financials and creativity. The result: 600 young leaders steering the future of business and culture in 20 different industries,” Forbes said on its website.
To be considered, you must be nominated. Applicants don’t hear a word from Forbes editors until the list is released. And on top of that, no one knows when the list will be released.
2025’s list was released on Dec. 3.
“I told both my parents that I wanted to get on Forbes 30 under 30,” said Patry. “I’ve told them many times [since high school], so it was cool to call them and tell them I officially made it.”
This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 5:30 AM.