Phillip Tran ’23 was recently named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Food & Drink list for his company, Bangers Snacks, also known as “BANGERS!” In July of 2025, Bangers Snacks launched the first-ever caffeinated potato chips, containing two coffees’ worth of caffeine in one bag. 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Tran said he developed an early habit of applying ideas to real-world problems. 

Tran credits his Stanford education with driving his entrepreneurial spirit.

“Being at Stanford and immersed in the broader Silicon Valley ecosystem pushed me toward the work that ultimately led to Bangers and Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition,” Tran wrote to The Daily.

Building on that foundation, Tran also emphasized how his ambitions for Bangers Snacks extend far beyond its initial product launch.

“We’re starting with potato chips, but the long-term vision is to grow into new flavors, new caffeinated formats and adjacent functional products,” Tran wrote. “At the same time, I want to build Bangers into a vertically integrated platform.”

Tran’s long-term vision is reflected in how Bangers Snacks has already begun to differentiate itself within the snack industry, bringing innovation and functionality to an otherwise traditional snack.

According to Prepared Foods, Banger Snacks are “priced around $2.99 per bag [and they] deliver the same caffeine as energy drinks — in a crunchy, portable form — aiming to offer a functional boost for travelers, workers and students through the holiday season.”

During Tran’s educational journey majoring in economics and coterming in management science & engineering (MS&E) at Stanford, he was immersed in Silicon Valley’s innovation in software, artificial intelligence and technology. However, he later noticed that consumer packaged goods (CPGs), especially food and beverage, had seen little to no innovation for decades.

“That gap stood out to me, particularly because [food and beverage] sits at the foundation of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,” Tran wrote. “I saw an opportunity to bring the same level of creativity, speed and ambition that defines Silicon Valley into CPG, and that realization became the catalyst for building a category-defining brand.”

Looking to the future, Tran hopes to scale Bangers Snacks from a national brand into a global one. They’re already selling through major retailers including Chevron ExtraMile, Circle K and 7-Eleven.

Bell Lee ’29, who hopes to create a startup of his own while at Stanford, expressed concern at the possibility of the product’s younger customer base. “I think the caffeinated chips may introduce people to caffeine earlier in their lives,” Lee wrote to The Daily.  

Tran emphasized how the classes, mentorship and peer networks he had at Stanford reinforces the idea that sustainable growth comes from solving real problems with lasting impact and aligning long-term goals. The idea carries beyond campus and helps founders build companies that last, not just companies that grow quickly.

“Stanford is uniquely positioned to teach you how to take theoretical concepts, apply data and technology to real-world industries and disrupt categories that haven’t changed in decades,” Tran wrote. “The biggest opportunities often sit in overlooked spaces where tech hasn’t been fully applied yet.”

This article has been updated to accurately reflect Tran’s coterm degree. The Daily regrets this error.