BUCKED UP THE #1 PRE-WORKOUT BRAND: 9 FIGURE EMPIRE IN 10 YEARS  || RYAN GARDNER || EPISODE 084

The Code To Winning

BUCKED UP THE #1 PRE-WORKOUT BRAND: 9 FIGURE EMPIRE IN 10 YEARS || RYAN GARDNER || EPISODE 084

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Published on Apr 30, 2026, 12:31:08 PM
Total time: 00:49:48

Episode Description

Ryan Gardner founded Bucked Up in 2016 and has been the managing partner and CEO ever since. Under his supervision, Bucked Up has gone from a local supplement brand to the #1 best-selling pre-workout, available in over 100,000 stores worldwide.

 

Back in 2001, Ryan and his twin brother Jeff built a successful internet marketing company, promoting everything from supplements to biz opp to lead generation. By 2010, their affiliate network (with only 3 other employees) was earning over $25M+ annually in revenue. In 2015, they saw that social media was the future and decided to start their own social media agency. After over a decade of promoting other people's products, Ryan and Jeff realized it was finally time to put their talents to work promoting their own.

 

Ryan purchased the domain name DeerAntlerSpray.com in 2013. Not long after, Ray Lewis made headline news when he was accused of taking the spray before the Super Bowl. Sales exploded overnight. Sure, he was in the "Right Time...Right Place," but without Ryan's smart, hard work, he would've missed out on all that success. Shortly after the Super Bowl, he managed to get Deer Antler Spray into GNC and sold thousands of bottles a week for the next two years. Ryan, with the help of a GNC franchise owner, came up with the idea to launch a pre-workout. Despite some skepticism from family, he purchased BUCKEDUP.com for $1500 and named the first pre-workout "Bucked Up." With a great logo, flavor profile, the right ingredients, and a non-proprietary blend, the company started making waves in the supplement industry and never looked back.

 

This episode Ryan talks about his journey and the start of Bucked Up how the business structure works, affiliates and partners and the vision for the next 10 years.


Timestamps
00:00 Introduction 
03:37 How The Journey Begun
08:06 Brand Name Challenges ️
10:48 Athlete Selection
13:20 Ambassador Payments
17:14 Company Growth
21:17 Networking Importance
24:13 CEO Involvement ‍
27:32 Learning From Failure
30:03 Intuition in Business
32:50 Bucked Up Future
38:43 Next Athlete Partner?
42:06 Soccer/NFL/ NBA
45:35 Brand Equity Focus
48:47 Affiliate Program

More about The Code To Winning
The Code To Winning is an engaging podcast that centers around insightful interviews with a diverse range of guests, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and CEOs. With a compelling motto, “Insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow,” the podcast delves into the strategic and practical aspects of success in the dynamic world of business. Through in-depth conversations, listeners gain valuable perspectives and strategies from accomplished individuals who have navigated the complexities of the business landscape. Those who know what it takes to win. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an established professional, The Code To Winning offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to empower you on your journey to success. Tune in to unlock the secrets and strategies that can propel you towards achieving your goals in the ever-evolving business world.