Kelly Krpata's journey from surviving a grizzly bear attack to battling Stage 4 colorectal cancer twice has led to the creation of BRYTR DAYS, a company offering a once-daily nutritional drink called Daily Nutrition for Real Life. The product aims to help individuals feel more prepared for the demands of everyday life, not by optimizing every moment but by supporting ordinary days.
Krpata's perspective was shaped by extraordinary events. While hiking in Glacier National Park as a University of Michigan graduate student, he was mauled by a grizzly bear, requiring surgery for severed muscles and puncture wounds. The ordeal was later featured in National Geographic Adventure. More than two decades later, he faced two diagnoses of Stage 4 colorectal cancer. Between these events, he built a career on Wall Street and at Silicon Valley startups, married, and raised two daughters. These experiences didn't inspire him to start a company; instead, they changed how he viewed daily life. "Going through cancer changes what you pay attention to," says Krpata. "You stop thinking about living an extraordinary life and start appreciating ordinary ones. You want enough energy for your family, your work, and the people you care about. You realize most people aren't trying to optimize every moment. They're simply trying to have more good days."
That curiosity led him to explore nutrition and the science of how the body works. He became convinced that modern life had outpaced nutritional habits, with busy schedules, stress, inconsistent meals, and poor sleep becoming the norm. Much of the nutrition industry, he felt, asked people to do more—follow another routine, buy another product, or chase another trend. Instead, he asked: How could nutrition better support the life people were already living? This question brought together family, friends, and scientists, eventually becoming BRYTR DAYS.
Krpata asked his wife, Anita, to become CEO, recognizing that discovering an idea and building a company are different jobs. "I've always believed discovering an idea and building a company are two different jobs," says Krpata. "I've always been drawn to questions. Anita has always been exceptional at turning answers into action." Together, they built the company around three principles: choose the right ingredients, understand the right interactions, and find the right ratios—internally called the Three Rs.
The result is Daily Nutrition for Real Life, a simple, once-daily nutritional drink. "We're not trying to help people optimize their lives," says Krpata. "We're trying to help people feel a little more like themselves. Because when you feel more like yourself, it's easier to show up for everything else that matters."
For the health and wellness industry, BRYTR DAYS represents a shift toward simplicity and sustainability in nutrition. Instead of adding complexity, the company focuses on supporting everyday well-being. This approach may resonate with consumers overwhelmed by endless health trends and seeking manageable solutions. For readers, it underscores the importance of daily nutrition in maintaining energy and resilience, especially for those facing health challenges or busy lives. Krpata's story highlights how personal adversity can inspire a mission to help others appreciate and protect ordinary days.
