Nick Bare
If It Were Easy...
Fact: When I told my dad my business plan, goals, and projections in 2012, he responded, "If it were easy, everyone would do it." He was right.
Where it all started
PennsylvaniaI was going to college to study nutrition and on an Army ROTC scholarship, so I knew I would serve as an active duty officer upon graduation. At this point in life, I was obsessed with fitness, nutrition, supplement science, and building things. When we were allowed to apply for a pre-commissioning loan, I saw this as my golden ticket to start the business I had dreamed of for years. Bare Performance Nutrition was born in my tiny college apartment in 2012 with a $20k loan. I had no experience or mentors, but my burning passion for what I was about to create was remarkable.
When intentional vision meets relentless consistency, the result is incredible potential.
For the next five years, BPN is a side business while I’m in the military.
TexasAfter graduating from college and commissioning into the US Army as an infantry officer, I spent a year of training at Fort Benning, GA, before reaching my first duty assignment of Fort Hood, TX. My military experience transformed my mindset and instilled strong leadership abilities. I served as a platoon leader and graduated from Ranger School. While in the military, I spent every waking moment outside work building BPN. Whatever I had to do, learn, create, or execute. I became a Swiss Army pocket knife. In 2017 I transitioned out of the Army and went all-in on BPN.
The Journey Of A Founder
Product, Brand and PeopleBootstrapping a business is hard; there is no doubt about that, but it's been the wildest and most fulfilling rollercoaster ride. Entrepreneurship comes with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. We signed our first warehouse lease after I left the Army, and since that day, it's been head down and work. Our small team built relationships with manufacturers and launched new products across three categories (performance, endurance, and wellness). As the business grew, so did our team. Those early years were some of the most stressful days of my life, but every morning felt like Christmas as a young child. I was thriving.
We documented the process and built a community
Our brand reached more people as we shared every step of the way. We documented everything. There are videos of us moving into our first warehouse, shipping out orders, visiting manufacturing facilities, and testing new products. This built trust with our consumers and facilitated growth.
In 2019 we created BPN's official tagline and trademarked "Go One More." That has become our mission's foundation and shaped our vision's trajectory. Today, thousands of people have "Go One More" tattooed on their bodies because it also means so much to them.
Go One More
In 2019 we created BPN's official tagline and trademarked "Go One More." That has become our mission's foundation and shaped our vision's trajectory. Today, thousands of people have "Go One More" tattooed on their bodies because it also means so much to them.
A Decade Later...
And we're just getting startedToday, the 40+ full-time employees that work for BPN operate out of our 50k square foot headquarters outside of Austin, Texas. Our omnichannel brand started with a direct-to-consumer model but is now in major retailers like Vitamin Shoppe, HEB, Scheels, and Central Market. Since 2012, BPN has been on a mission to equip people with the tools, resources, and community to Go One More, and we're just getting started.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BPN
Turning A Dream Into Reality
2012
I was about to enter my senior year of college while attending the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying nutrition, and enrolled in the Army ROTC program. With a burning passion for supplement science, bodybuilding, and performance optimization, I took the leap of faith and started my company. A $20,000 loan funded my first production order for our pre-workout, Flight, and Bare Performance Nutrition was born.
2013
After a year of learning how to build a business (and failing), I graduated from college, was commissioned into the Army as an Infantry Officer, and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia. Over a year at the "Home of the Infantry," I completed the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course (IBOLC), Ranger School, Airborne School, and the Bradley Leader Course.
2014
I packed up my truck and everything I owned, which wasn't much, and drove to Texas for my first duty assignment - Fort Hood. I was assigned to 1st Brigade, 2-12 CAV in a mechanized Infantry Company, and was a platoon leader. After settling into my new home, I knew I had to do something to build the company I had started two years prior. So, I picked up a camera and began documenting my life. I shared fitness advice, diet tips, military life, and the journey of a new entrepreneur. This decision changed everything.
2016
Our unit received orders for a nine-month rotation in South Korea. At the time, my brand was slowly growing; Bare Performance Nutrition was gaining more awareness, and revenue and order volume was increasing. When I arrived in South Korea, I decided that I was going to maximize this opportunity. I spent every waking moment outside of work building the business. No television, no movies, no leisure, no hobbies - work. When I arrived, BPN was generating about $2,000 a month in revenue, and by the time I left, revenue had increased to $10,000+ a month. The focus, deep work, and intentionality paid off.
2017
After four years in the military, my contract ended, and I began transitioning out. My brother had moved to Texas while I was still in South Korea, and he joined the business full-time. We hit the ground running, signed a warehouse lease, and spent fifteen-hour days building BPN. After a lot of blood, sweat, and tears poured into the business that year, we generated over one million dollars in revenue - bootstrapped from the ground up.
2019
BPN kept consistently growing, and the more work we put in, the greater the result we experienced. My brother and I were able to start hiring more people, and we signed a lease for a more extensive warehouse. After beginning as a performance supplement brand (pre-workout, creatine, protein powders, etc.), we decided to extend the line to health and wellness. This was a huge hit and well-received by our consumers. We focused on brand positioning and trademarked BPN's official slogan, "Go One More."
2020
From 2019 to 2020, we grew four-hundred percent! It was a wild ride and quite the experience. We expanded the warehouse, offices, employee count, systems, and every other part of the business. Our team tried to keep up with the scale as we fought supply chain issues and growing pains - all good problems to have, but also very humbling. We also broke into the endurance market this year, launched specific products for those athletes, and made a "splash" as we pioneered The Hybrid Athlete.
2022
After a high-growth phase of business, it was time to rebuild the organizational foundation. We hired vital employees to lead operations, performance marketing, creative, and finance. We expanded the health and wellness line of BPN, released new packaging, and hosted more in-person events and activations. As we celebrated ten years since I started the company out of my college apartment, we ended 2022 generating forty million dollars in revenue.
2023
I stepped down from the CEO role at BPN and, as a founder, focused on content marketing, brand awareness and led the vision for the business. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. We expanded the brand into omnichannel markets, with a significant retail launch with partners like Vitamin Shoppe, HEB, Scheels, and Central Market. Our employee headcount had surpassed 40 full-time team members, and we operated out of 50k square feet of warehouse and office space. I also became a dad to a beautiful baby girl named Charli Grace this year.
BPN HQ
Round Rock, Texas
You Can Go Fast Alone
But You Can Go Further TogetherIn the early years of building the business, I chose to operate by myself at an incredible speed. I was forced to learn, grow and adapt to the evolving world of entrepreneurship, and I loved every part. But, in 2016, while stationed in South Korea with the Army, I called my brother, Preston, to join me. I needed his help. He quit his job, moved his life to Texas, pulled up his sleeves, and got to work with me. We have been at it together since, and building something great with him has been extremely rewarding. I've learned over time that the journey is the reward, and who you choose to walk with (to be honest, it usually feels like running) determines the experience.
Family
Husband, father and leaderI've been very blessed by a healthy and happy family. In 2017 I met my wife, Stefany, and we got married in the fall of 2020. She has been my rock through the ups and downs of my personal and professional career and has supported me through many wins and even more losses.
In the summer of 2022, we had our first child, Charli Grace. I thought I knew how my life would change after becoming a dad, but I had no clue. It provided me with a level of clarity that I never had before. It gave "Go One More" a new meaning, and my life's mission evolved afterward. I have a sharper guide to being a better husband, leader, and role model.
In the summer of 2022, we had our first child, Charli Grace. I thought I knew how my life would change after becoming a dad, but I had no clue. It provided me with a level of clarity that I never had before. It gave "Go One More" a new meaning, and my life's mission evolved afterward. I have a sharper guide to being a better husband, leader, and role model.