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Marco De Leon

Co-Founder of Rip Van

Marco De Leon is a prominent entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of Rip Van Wafels, a snack food brand known for its innovative approach to creating healthier snacks. He co-founded the company in 2012 alongside his college friend Rip Pruisken while they were students at Brown University.

Educational Background

Marco De Leon attended St. Christopher's School and later graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 2012. During his time at Brown, he also spent a semester studying abroad in Brazil at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.12

Career Path

Before establishing Rip Van, Marco gained experience in various roles:

  • 2009: National Sales Manager for The Brown Daily Herald, Inc.
  • 2009: Finance and Treasury Summer Analyst at NewMarket Corporation.
  • 2010: Finance Intern at Conspiração Filmes.
  • 2011: Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Morgan Stanley.1

In 2010, he and Rip Pruisken began developing their product, initially called Van Wafels, from their dorm room. They utilized Kickstarter to launch the business and faced numerous challenges, including living out of a car while traveling to promote their snacks.45 Their efforts paid off as Rip Van Wafels gained traction and is now sold in over 12,000 Starbucks locations across the United States.23

Achievements

Marco De Leon was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016 for his contributions to the food industry. Under his leadership, Rip Van has focused on creating low-sugar snacks that appeal to health-conscious consumers, transforming traditional treats into better-for-you options.36

Personal Interests

Outside of his professional endeavors, Marco enjoys reading about philosophy and traveling. His entrepreneurial spirit is inspired by his father's legacy and his desire to improve people's lives through innovative food products.46

Highlights

Jan 20 · en.wikipedia.org
Rip Van Wafels - Wikipedia
Sep 13 · fruitguys.com
Low-Sugar Office Snacks: How Rip Van Is Changing the Game
Low-Sugar Office Snacks: How Rip Van Is Changing the Game
Mar 2 · theorg.com
Marco De Leon - Co-Founder at Rip van Wafels | The Org
Feb 2 · Digital Journal
Leading Snack Maker Rip Van Partners With CROSSMARK to Fuel Convenience Store Expansion - Digital Journal
Feb 2 · Yahoo Finance
Leading Snack Maker Rip Van Partners With CROSSMARK to Fuel Convenience Store Expansion - Yahoo Finance
Rip Van Wafels' Rip Pruisken & Marco De Leon: Hungry for Success.

Related Questions

What inspired Marco De Leon to start Rip Van Wafels?
How did Marco De Leon's background in economics influence his entrepreneurial ventures?
What challenges did Marco De Leon face when scaling Rip Van Wafels?
How did Marco De Leon and his partner initially fund their business?
What strategies did Marco De Leon use to secure distribution deals with major companies like Starbucks?
Marco De Leon
Marco De Leon, photo 1
Marco De Leon, photo 2
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Location

Brooklyn, New York, United States