ORIGIN STORY
There's a myth about space food: Astronauts are so locked in on the mission, what they eat barely matters.
As the scientist responsible for feeding the crew of the International Space Station, Ryan saw firsthand how food directly impacts performance, focus, and resilience. In an environment where every variable is controlled and every outcome is critical, great nutrition isn't a luxury. It's a requirement. The food had to be delicious enough that astronauts would actually eat it, nutritious enough to sustain peak performance, and portable enough to work in the most demanding conditions on (or off) Earth.
Did you know 125 million Americans eat protein bars? That’s the problem. Protein bars are not designed to keep you sustained. They are full of sugar. Snacks dressed up as meals. Most bars are convenient but not nourishing.
Ryan built READYBAR to close that gap. Delicious enough to crave. Nutritious enough to replace a real meal. Portable enough to go wherever your day takes you.
Because whether you're 250 miles above Earth or twelve hours into a shift, great food isn't a nice-to-have. It's what keeps you going.
TEAM
-
RYAN DOWDY - FOUNDER & CEO
Ryan is on a mission to deliver science-backed performance nutrition without compromise. A Food Science Ph.D. from UC Davis, he was recruited out of grad school to manage NASA's $3M food system for the International Space Station - earning two NASA Agency Group Achievement Awards in 2.5 years - before launching READYBAR, the only bar engineered to function like a real meal.
-
-
ADVISORS
-
JASON QUINN
The Real ResQ Podcast“Quinny” served as a U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer (#500) and has executed high-stakes search and rescue missions for over 20 years. He’s flown on 14 different helicopters across 8 countries, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for the legendary F/V Galaxy rescue. A CrossFit Level 2 Coach, he trains like lives depend on it — because they do. As the host of The Real ResQ Podcast, he amplifies the raw, unfiltered stories of rescue professionals worldwide. Off duty, he’s all about family, adventure, and pushing limits in every way possible.
-
AARON ZAMZOW
Fire Rescue Fitness“ZAM” is on a mission to transform, motivate, and educate 100,000 firefighters, EMTs, and medics to get fit for duty. A career Lieutenant, EMT, and strength coach, he’s spent 20+ years in the fire service and trained athletes from the NBA, NFL, and NHL. As founder of Fire Rescue Fitness, he builds field-tested, mission-ready programs tailored for first responders. He also chairs the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) Fitness and Nutrition advisory boards, shaping the future of firefighter fitness. A certified expert in strength, conditioning, and nutrition, ZAM is a published author, speaker, and host of the "Better Every Shift" Podcast, pushing the fire service to be stronger, healthier, and always ready.
-
JENNIFER ROCHLIS
Advancing FrontiersJennifer knows what it takes to perform under pressure—because she spent her career making sure astronauts could. With a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT, she’s led at the highest levels of aerospace, including as a Division Chief at NASA, where she oversaw the human systems that help astronauts perform in the extreme environment of spaceflight.
Now an entrepreneur and executive coach, Jen runs an aerospace consulting firm and helps high-performing leaders navigate complex challenges and bold decisions. At READYBAR, she brings her deep expertise in human performance and recovery to fuel those who push the limits—on Earth and beyond.
-
JIM TASCHETTA
MISTAJim has been building businesses and brands for over 35 years. He spent the first half of his career at Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Visa in senior roles across global markets. During his 10 years at P&G, including 7 overseas, he helped lead the company's introduction into Argentina. At Coca-Cola, he led a $2 billion portfolio and helped grow Sprite into the fourth largest soft drink brand. At Visa, he led the first brand repositioning in over 20 years and launched a company-wide brand management system. He now focuses on helping small to medium sized companies scale and serves as Chief Operating Officer for MISTA, the world's leading foodtech innovation platform. Jim holds an MBA, MS, and BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and lives with his wife and two children in Burlingame, CA.
BRAND MISSION
We think you deserve a real meal. Even on your hardest days.
READYBAR exists for the gap in your day. The meeting that ran long, the commute that got complicated, the afternoon when lunch was a good intention that didn't happen. We're not trying to replace the joy of a slow meal with someone you love. We're trying to make sure that when life doesn't leave room for that, you still eat something real.
1 BAR = 1 MEAL. No compromises.
GIVING BACK
We donate 1% of every bar sold to active-duty first responders. The nurses, firefighters, paramedics, and rescue teams who know better than anyone what it means to need real fuel and have no time to find it. It's a small gesture toward a community that deserves a lot more.
ARE YOU READY?
Every READYBAR is a complete meal. Twice the nutrition. Half the sugar. Flavor worth looking forward to. Because the best meal of your day shouldn't be the one you had to skip.