Have you ever reached for a protein bar, taken a bite, and realized it’s mostly added sugars and processed ingredients disguised as something healthy? That frustration shared by athletes and college students alike is exactly what Operations Management and Business Analytics double major Evelyn Murphy (Cohort 45) and founder of Energy by Evelyn, set out to challenge. Her energy bites were born from a simple but powerful idea: pre-workout snacks should actually fuel you.
Evelyn’s connection to food began long before she ever stepped onto a field. Growing up in her parents’ bakery, she absorbed the unspoken lessons of craftsmanship, community, and care. She watched her parents build relationships with customers who felt like an extension of the family, and those early memories quietly shaped her understanding of what good food, real food, should feel like.
As a young female athlete, Murphy also experienced the complicated relationship many girls face with food. But instead of letting that tension distance her from nutrition, it deepened her appreciation for it. She learned firsthand how essential proper fueling is for strength, confidence, and performance. That personal journey is what led her to start experimenting with homemade energy bites for her teammates in high school, simple, clean, and intentionally built around high-quality carbohydrates rather than the protein trend dominating store shelves.
When she took an entrepreneurial gap year between high school and college, she finally gave the idea room to grow. Creating a clean-ingredient snack without preservatives was far more challenging than it sounded, and there were moments when recipes failed again and again. Yet Murphy approached each setback with the persistence she saw modeled in her parents’ bakery. She refined, she listened, she learned. What kept her grounded wasn’t the desire to build a business—it was her belief in the product and the athletes it was meant to support.
Today, Energy by Evelyn has made its way into twenty stores across several states, a milestone that represents not just growth, but validation of a vision she held quietly for years. Murphy talks about that achievement with a humility that makes it even more impressive; she sees it not as a finish line, but as confirmation that she is building something people truly want.
Her branding and marketing reflect the same authenticity that defines her product. Murphy builds in public, sharing the real ups and downs of entrepreneurship without trying to polish them away. It’s not performative, it’s honest. And it allows customers to feel like part of the journey, not just consumers.
Looking ahead, Murphy hopes to expand into regional and national retailers, but she’s intentional about growing in a way that stays true to her values. Sustainability, quality, and connection remain at the heart of everything she builds.
For fellow QUEST students hoping to launch something of their own, Evelyn’s message is both encouraging and real: just start. She believes that no one ever feels fully “ready,” and waiting for the perfect moment only delays the learning that ultimately builds confidence. She emphasizes that entrepreneurship is a commitment, humbling, time-intensive, and deeply rewarding when the vision behind it is genuine. “Surround yourself with people who share your excitement or can support you through the tougher stretches,” she says, “Because every founder needs a network that believes in them before they fully believe in themselves.” Her advice reflects the heart of her own journey: take the leap, embrace the process, and trust that each new challenge is a step toward becoming the person, and the entrepreneur, you’re meant to be.
Having entrepreneurs like Murphy in the QUEST community is part of what makes this program so unique. To continue supporting Murphy and to follow her growing venture, check out EnergyByEvelyn.com or follow her on Instagram at @energybyevelyn.