Nicholas “Nic” Stella is the founder and CEO of RYSE Supplements, a Texas-based sports nutrition company that says it launched in November 2017. Its growth story runs from an early pre-workout and amino-acid lineup to protein powders, licensed flavors, energy drinks and ready-to-drink products. The company’s timeline documents that expansion; Stella’s account of the financial risks behind it is his own recollection, not independently audited financial evidence.
Who is Nicholas Stella?
RYSE identifies Nicholas (Nic) Stella as its founder and CEO. The company’s mission statement, attributed to Stella, is: “We don’t sell shortcuts; we just make the long road ahead as productive as possible.” That emphasis on effort and performance is central to how RYSE presents its brand, but it does not establish the company’s market position or financial performance.
In a LinkedIn post, Stella says he was an All-American in high school, wrestled in college, and then worked in corporate America for about a year and a half before committing to a supplement business. Those biographical details are from Stella’s account. The Vitamin Shoppe also lists a “Founder Spotlight | Ryse Supplements” interview describing his inspiration for nostalgic product collaborations and the company’s mission, though a transcript of that interview is not available.
How did RYSE Supplements get started?
The 2017 launch
RYSE’s official timeline says the company launched a few days before Black Friday in November 2017. Its first lineup comprised two pre-workout flavors, BCAA + EAAs, and capsule products. Stella recalls starting in a small Denton, Texas, office with tight margins and wiring his last $81,000 for an order ahead of Black Friday. “I wired my last $81,000 for one order and prayed it would pay off big time for Black Friday,” he wrote. He says the launch sold out; neither the investment nor the sellout is independently verified in the available sources.
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- PREMIUM PROTEIN FORMULA: Delivers 25g of protein per serving from whey isolate and concentrate to support muscle building, recovery, and daily nutrition—with a smooth texture and indulgent great flavor.
- FUEL MUSCLE GROWTH & RECOVERY: Uses whey isolate as the primary protein source for fast absorption, paired with whey concentrate to deliver a complete amino acid profile for better performance and recovery.
- DIGESTION-FRIENDLY BLEND: Includes added prebiotic fiber to support gut health and reduce bloating, plus MCTs (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) to promote better digestion and clean energy without discomfort or heavy stomach feel.
- METABOLISM-BOOSTING MCTS: Contains MCTs (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) to support natural energy and metabolic function—ideal for active lifestyles and those looking to maintain a lean, strong physique.
- QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST: Formulated with high-quality ingredients, backed by clinical research, and tested for purity. No artificial fillers—just clean, great-tasting protein to support your fitness goals.
How the product range broadened
RYSE’s timeline describes a rapid move beyond the initial products. In 2018, the company says it added Loaded Protein, opened a second warehouse in Frisco after several months, distributed internationally in Europe, Australia and South Africa, and placed Loaded Protein in GNC stores nationwide. These are company-reported milestones, not independently measured distribution figures.
In 2019, RYSE says it introduced Project: Blackout, added Fruity Crunch to Loaded Protein and started the RYSE to Greatness ambassador program. Its timeline reports more than 25,000 sign-ups worldwide; that is a company-published figure, not an independently verified count. The company also describes a non-carbonated ready-to-drink product entering gyms in 2020 and a plan to reach more than 25 countries by year end. The latter was a forecast, so it should not be read as proof that the target was met.
RYSE’s 2021 timeline lists licensed Sunny-D and Ring Pop pre-workouts, Pump Cap Max and Godzilla Pre-Workout, along with expansion to Vitamin Shoppe. In 2022, it reports adding creatine and RYSE Fuel and introducing flavors associated with Smarties, Kool-Aid, Bazooka, Jet-Puffed and MoonPie. The timeline says the company also secured a large Walmart assortment that year.
How did RYSE expand into energy drinks?
RYSE says it launched RYSE Fuel in 2022, then expanded the line in 2023 with seven flavors and broader distribution, including energy drinks and exclusive products at GNC. Its timeline also records a move into an 80,000-square-foot headquarters in Prosper, Texas, that year. The size and milestones are company-reported.
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Stella’s LinkedIn account describes a significant investment in RYSE Fuel and frames energy drinks as a way to build on the company’s existing products. He wrote, “I believe the key to growth is innovation that complements our core products.” His post also refers to growth exceeding 800% “that year,” without defining the metric or period; it is not a verified growth rate or a basis for estimating revenue.
For 2024, RYSE says RYSE Fuel became the official energy drink of the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks. The company also reports expansion at Target and Walmart, collaborations with Little Debbie and Suga Sean, and launches of Clear Protein RTD and Loaded Pre-Workout RTD. Its timeline claims a fourth consecutive Protein Wars victory. These milestones describe the company’s account of its brand and distribution development; they do not establish that any one partnership or product caused growth.
Rank #2
- PREMIUM PROTEIN FORMULA: Delivers 25g of protein per serving from whey isolate and concentrate to support muscle building, recovery, and daily nutrition—with a smooth texture and indulgent great flavor.
- FUEL MUSCLE GROWTH & RECOVERY: Uses whey isolate as the primary protein source for fast absorption, paired with whey concentrate to deliver a complete amino acid profile for better performance and recovery.
- DIGESTION-FRIENDLY BLEND: Includes added prebiotic fiber to support gut health and reduce bloating, plus MCTs (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) to promote better digestion and clean energy without discomfort or heavy stomach feel.
- METABOLISM-BOOSTING MCTS: Contains MCTs (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) to support natural energy and metabolic function—ideal for active lifestyles and those looking to maintain a lean, strong physique.
- QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST: Formulated with high-quality ingredients, backed by clinical research, and tested for purity. No artificial fillers—just clean, great-tasting protein to support your fitness goals.
What products does RYSE Supplements make?
RYSE currently groups its range into protein, pre-workout, creatine, hydration, BCAA/EAAs and energy drinks. Products named in the company timeline include Loaded Protein, CEO Pre-Workout, RYSE Fuel, Clear Protein RTD and Loaded Pre-Workout RTD, alongside capsule and other formats. Powders, capsules, canned drinks and ready-to-drink products serve different purposes, so the categories should not be treated as interchangeable. Formulas, flavors, stock and retail availability can change.
RYSE’s FAQ lists caffeine amounts for selected pre-workouts: Godzilla Pre-Workout and Stim Daddy have 200 mg per one scoop or 400 mg per two scoops; Loaded Pre-Workout has 325 mg per scoop in KRAFT flavors and 300–390 mg in other flavors; Element Pre-Workout has 200 mg; and Pump Daddy and Pump Cap Max have 0 mg per serving. These are vendor-reported figures that vary by formula and flavor; check the current product label before use. RYSE says its products are intended for healthy adults aged 18 or older and advises people who are pregnant to consult a licensed physician.
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What can be established about Stella and RYSE’s financial success?
The available sources support a chronology of product launches, reported retail expansion and partnerships, but they do not provide independently verified revenue, valuation or market-share figures. Stella’s reference to “building a billion dollar beverage brand” is an aspiration in his post, not evidence that RYSE is valued at or has reached one billion dollars. Likewise, his account of the $81,000 order and the undefined 800% growth claim should be understood as founder-reported statements.
For a personal-finance reader, that distinction matters: a compelling founder story and visible retail presence are not substitutes for financial disclosures. The company’s own timeline is useful for understanding how it describes its development, but it is not a financial statement or independent assessment of its performance.
How RYSE describes product safety and regulation
RYSE says supplement companies do not go through an FDA approval process, while describing its products as manufactured in a “level 3 FDA Approved and Regulated” facility. That facility description is the company’s wording and should not be interpreted to mean that an individual supplement is FDA-approved. RYSE’s site also states that product claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and that products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
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