Consumer VC: Venture Capital I B2C Startups I Commerce | Early-Stage Investing I Brands

Holiday Highlights: Joe Kudla (Vouri)

Holiday Highlights: Mike Ghaffary (Canvas VC)

My guest today is Mike Ghaffary who is a partner at Canvas Ventures, a firm that specializes on leading Series A. Some of their investments include Flyhomes, Nubrakes, and Zola. This is Mike’s second time on Consumer VC and is our first second time guest. His first appearance we went deep on how to evaluate and invest in marketplace businesses. On this episode, we discuss what is the next big thing in consumer after the iPhone? Is it web3, metaverse, remote work applications or something complet...

Holiday Highlights: Greer Tessler & Cara Kaufman (Simple Food Ventures)

This is a recap episode of my conversation with Greer Terrler and Cara Kaufman, founders of Simple Food Ventures. Simple Food Ventures is an early stage venture firm that invests in the future of healthy foods and products. We discuss how they both began investing in better for you products, do they only invest in better for the planet or better for you, and what makes a product work on shelf.

Holiday Highlights: Jason Karp (HumanCo)

This was our first LIVE episode, which we recorded at Cosmic Coffee & Beer Garden in Austin, TX during SXSW. I chatted with Jason Karp, Founder of Hu Kitchen, Hu Chocolate and CEO of HumanCo. HumanCo is a holding company that’s invested in healthy living. We’re going to learn more about their brands Snow Days, Against the grain and Cosmic Bliss. We discuss the rebrand of Coconut Bliss to Cosmic Bliss and question if there is a current bifurcation within the better for you movement. Without f...

Holiday Highlights: Nagraj Kashyap (SoftBank Investment Advisors)

Today’s highlight episode features Nagraj Kashyap , Managing Partner of SoftBank’s Vision Fund one of the world's largest venture capital firms, with over $100 billion in capital. Nagraj leads their consumer investment practice for north America. It was amazing chatting with him about how Vision Fund 2 is different from fund 1, his thesis around the future of healthcare the ecommerce stack and how he thinks about scale for non-tech consumer businesses. WIthout further ado, here’s Nagraj....

Sarah Foley (SWAT Equity Partners) – Investing in Consumer vs. Tech

Thank you Anna Whiteman for the introduction to our guest today, Sarah Foley , Partner at SWAT Equity Partners . SWAT Equity Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in emerging consumer brands across various product, service, and commerce sectors. Some of the investments include Supergoop! , Banza , and Mad Rabbit . We discuss: Why invest in consumer right now Difference when investing in consumer vs. tech Consumer macro trends she’s bullish vs. bearish on The balanc...

Brigette Wolf (Mondelēz) - Inside Mondelēz's Innovation Hub

Our guest today is Brigette Wolf , VP and Global Head of SnackFutures at Mondelēz International . Mondelez International is an American multinational confectionery, food, and beverage holding company. Some of their brands include Oreo , Cadbury , Chips Ahoy , Ritz , and Tate’s Bake Shop . SnackFutures is Mondelez’s innovation and venture hub. We discuss: When to partner with a corporate venture capital fund Her investment criteria and stage How tightly SnackFutures is tied to Mondelēz’s core bus...

Ashley Hartman (Bluestein Ventures) - Investing in The Future of Food

Our guest today on the podcast is Ashley Hartman , Managing Partner at Bluestein Ventures . Bluestein Ventures is one of the premier family-backed venture capital fund in the food industry whose mission is to transform the food system into a better, more nutritious, and sustainable world. They invest at the Seed to Series A rounds and some of their investments include Factor , Meati , and Foxtrot . We discuss: Why she became an investor in food Opportunities throughout the food value chain The d...

Vijen Patel (The 81 Collection & Pressbox) - Why building & investing in hardware is overlooked

Our guest today is Vijen Patel , who is the co-founder of Pressbox (now Tide Cleaners) and The 81 Collection . Pressbox was a 24/7 dry cleaning and laundry service that Vijen bootstrapped to a very successful exit to P&G. The 81 Collection is a VC fund that focuses on the hard industries. We discuss: Why he had no choice but to bootstrap his dry cleaning tech business His approach to scale and expanding to multiple cities How P&G tried to destroy his business Why he eventually sold to P&...

Ty Haney (Outdoor Voices, Joggy, TYB) - Why she left Outdoor Voices, how brands can leverage crypto, and creating a CBD line

This is a recording of a live interview I did with Ty Haney last month in Austin, TX. Ty is most famous for founding Outdoor Voices , the technical apparel brand whose on a mission to get the world moving. My apologies in advance, we had a lot of technical issues on the day and the quality of the recording is not great. I really appreciate Ty for being incredibly open about her journey. We discuss: The origin of Outdoor Voices Why she left OV and what went wrong Her introduction to crypto How sh...

Jesse Pujji (Gateway X) - How Brands Should Approach Performance Marketing Today, When To Raise Equity vs. Boostrapping & How He Incubates Companies

Our guest today on The Consumer VC podcast is Jesse Pujji , Founder of Gateway X and Ampush . Gateway X is a venture studio and holding company founded by Jesse Pujji. Ampush is a growth marketing partner that crafts holistic strategies and executes throughout the funnel. We discuss: Why he left Goldman Sachs to start a performance marketing company Why he was bullish on Facebook ads early on How early brands should approach social media marketing today The biggest mistakes companies make in cus...

Marcos Gonzalez (VamosVentures) - Why he left PE to start a VC fund that invests in minority-led businesses

Our guest today is Marcos Gonzalez , Founder & Managing Partner of VamosVentures . VamosVentures is committed to creating a pipeline of diverse VC investors. Their investments include Stix , DRNXSMYTH , and Suma . We also discuss: How he invests in both software and consumer businesses Approach to portfolio construction How to increase the number of diverse founders who are venture-backed His diligence process Why he’s bullish about Los Angeles Latin American products that will be adopted by...

Steve Case (AOL, Revolution & Rise of the Rest) - Why He's Optimistic About Innovation in Secondary and Tertiary American Cities

Thank you Tige Savage for the introduction to our guest today, Steve Case . Steve is the co-founder / former CEO of AOL . He also founded Revolution & Rise of the Rest. Revolution focuses on early-stage venture capital investments in technology-enabled businesses in the growth, venture and seed stages. Rise of the Rest is a nationwide bus tour to work with entrepreneurs in emerging startup ecosystems. We focus this conversation around his latest book “ The Rise of the Rest ”. We discuss: Wha...

Joe Welch (In Good Taste) – How you can make money in wine and why he left tech to found a beverage company

Thank you Connor Ryan for introducing me to our guest today, Joe Welch , Founder & CEO of In Good Taste . In Good Taste allows you to explore the world of wine with their eight 6-ounce bottle wine flights. We discuss: Why he left tech to start a wine company Can you make money in wine His focus on packaging and what he set out to accomplish with In Good Taste Zoom wine tastings during COVID His approach to retail Wine subscription businesses Creating his own tasting locations...

Wayne Hu and Josh Constine (SignalFire) - The Current State of NFTs & Which Web2 media Platform is Best Positioned for Web3?

Our guests today are Wayne Hu (Partner) & Josh Constine (Venture Partner & Head of Content) at SignalFire . SignalFire is the first Venture Capital firm built from the ground up as a technology company. We discuss: The promises of the creator economy & how to invest in it Which Web2 media company is best positioned for Web3 The current state of the NFT market What is the metaverse Where does venture capital fit into Web3 communities What is the future of owning the connection to your...

Ben Jones (Haus Labs by Lady Gaga) - Inside Lady Gaga's Beauty Brand

Our guest today is Ben Jones, CEO of Haus Labs by Lady Gaga. Haus Labs by Lady Gaga is Lady Gaga’s clean artistry makeup brand powered by innovation. Here's some of the questions I ask: How did you meet Lady Gaga and what was your first impression? and can you tell me about the founding story of what was originally Haus Laboratories? What was the reason she wanted to start a makeup brand? Lady Gaga is one of the busiest celebrities in the world, touring the world, acting, and engaging in a numbe...

Katlin Smith (Simple Mills) - How She's Building a Next Generation Food Company

Our guest today is Katlin Smith, founder and CEO of Simple Mills. Simple Mills are Clean, nutritious foods for a better life - it’s that simple. I’m a big fan of their products. We discuss the insight and inspiration behind founding Simple Mills, her approach to raising capital and picking the right investors, how consumer preferences have evolved since she first got started, her approach to nutrition and thinking about better-for-you products in general. Some of the questions I ask: What was th...

Eze Vidra (Remagine Ventures) - Investing in Israel, Media, and the Metaverse

Our guest today is Eze Vidra, Managing Partner of Remagine Ventures. Remagine, focuses on a cluster of these interconnected sectors, specifically media, entertainment, sports, commerce and data. We discuss consumer tech investing in Israel, VR & AR, and different use cases when it comes to the metaverse. Without further ado, here’s Eze. We discuss: I know you’re very focused on Israel. Why has Israel thrived as an entrepreneurship center? Since it is a small market, how do companies approach...

Abraham Shafi (IRL) - Building a community rather than an audience

Our guest today is Abe Shafi, co-founder and CEO of IRL. IRL is Your group messaging app where you can Chat, create polls, post photos, and coordinate plans with your friends. We discuss: The founding story of IRL and the original thesis, growth, how they had to pivot their strategy during COVID, the approach to fundraising and where the company is currently at. Without further ado, here’s Abe. We discuss: Why entrepreneurship? Why did you want to create a consumer company? What was the insight ...

Ashleigh Hinde (Waldo) - Building a brand with a product you can't see - contact lenses

Our guest today is Ashleigh Hinde, Founder and CEO of Waldo. Waldo makes daily contact lenses without the hassle or price tag. We discuss how she’s building a brand with a product that you can’t see, how she approaches e-commerce and retail, and why she founded a contact lens company in the first place. Some of the questions I ask: What was the insight or pain point you went through that led you to founding Waldo? Did you always want to be an entrepreneur? How much do contacts usually sell for? ...

Mike Hirshland (Resolute Ventures) - The state of pre-seed & seed investing

Our guest today is Mike Hirshland, co-founder of Resolute Ventures. Resolute Ventures is a lead seed and “pre-seed” investor focused on backing and connecting a community of Founders who share an entrepreneurial spirit and energy. Some of their investments include Bark Box, Clutter, and Lumen. We discuss what pre-seed and seed investing is today, the opportunity within Web3, and how he builds conviction within founders. Without further ado, here’s Mike. Some of the questions I ask How did you en...

Mike Senackerib (Dewey's Bakery) - How a 90-year old bake shop turned into a CPG powerhouse

Our guest today is Mike Senackerib, CEO of Dewey’s Bakery. Dewey’s Bakery was founded in 1930 in Winston-Salem and was famous regionally for their baked goods. Fairly recently they opened a CPG line with lots of treats. Their cookies are incredibly delicious, not just saying that because Mike came on the show. We discuss the history of Dewey’s, why they decided to start a CPG line, approach to baking and manufacturing, brand positioning and how Mike became the CEO. Some of the questions I ask – ...

Mike Mayer (Windmill) - Building the smart AC Unit that's eye candy for your window

Our guest today is Mike Mayer, Co-CEO of Windmill. Windmill is the smart, quiet AC unit that looks nice. As you can imagine, we discuss the wonderful world of air conditioning. How he co-founded Windmill with his brother if he had any intention of getting into the air condition business, his approach to getting Windmill off the ground, fundraising, new revenue streams, and releasing new products. Some of the questions I ask: Did you always want to be an entrepreneur and start a business with you...

Matt Gibson (New Culture) - Creating Cheese Without the Cow

Our guest today is Matt Gibson, co-founder and CEO of New Culture. New Culture makes animal-free dairy products that stretch, melt, and taste like the real deal through fermentation. We’re going to discuss why he made animal free cheese, what makes cheese cheese, how it’s different to other cheese alternatives, and his go to market strategy, which I think is quite unique. Some of the questions I ask him: What inspired you to want to make animal-free cheese? You had a passion for food did you com...

Noah Gray (Onda) - How he's Scaling Shay Mitchell's Tequila Seltzer Brand

Our guest today is Noah Gray, co-founder CEO of Onda. Onda is a sparkling tequila brand famously co-founded by Shay Mitchell. We discuss how Onda came to be, how Shay became involved, the intersection of celebrity and consumer, his fundraising and retail strategy. Without further ado, here’s Noah. I ask him: How did you end up in the beverage space? What attracted you to build an RTD tequila brand? Was the plan to always offer a product with zero sugar/carbs? Was it your consumer asking or was t...

Brent Vartan (Bullish) - How desires lead to opportunities & Bullish on Consumer Report

Our guest today is Brent Vartan, Managing Partner of Bullish. Bullish is an investment firm and Brand Agency designed for consumer businesses living early in an S-curve. Some of their investments include Peloton, Harry’s and Warby Parker. Bullish just released their report “Bullish On Consumer: Operationalizing Demand-Side Themes for Better Outcomes ”. We will dig into the report and their three cultural themes within consumer. Click Here to Download Bullish’s Consumer Report Some of the questio...

Cristina Nuñez (True Beauty Ventures) - How to invest in beauty and personal care brands

Our guest today is Cristina Nuñez, Co-founder and General Partner of True Beauty Ventures. Some of their investments include Maude, Crown Affair, and K18. Today’s episode focuses on how to invest and build a beauty and personal care brand. Without further ado, here’s Cristina. Some of the questions I ask her: Why start a fund only focused on beauty and personal care? What do you look for? Does a company have to be omnichannel from day 1 in order for you to be interested? How do you think about t...

Alison Cayne (Haven's Kitchen) - From founding a cooking school to creating a sauce brand

Our guest today is Alison Cayne , who is the founder of Haven’s Kitchen . Haven’s Kitchen is a cooking school and a sauce brand that creates fresh sauces in easy-squeezy, lightweight pouches. In this episode we discuss: Why she wanted to teach others how to cook Founding Haven’s Kitchen in NYC Why she decided to launch your own sauce line Her approach to packaging and brand positioning How she got into retail The current fundraising environment in CPG...

Chuck Newhall (NEA) - How he founded one of the most successful venture capital firms in history

Our guest today is Chuck Newhall, who is one of the founders of New Enterprise Associates or also known as NEA. NEA is one the largest and most renowned venture capital firms in the world. The companies he financed have over $400 billion in revenues today. He’s also a Vietnam War veteran and earned many combat decorations including the purple heart and is an American hero. Chuck released his latest book “Dare Disturb the Universe, a memoir on venture capital” which is an amazing story about the ...

Nick Moran (New Stack Ventures) - Going from podcast to syndicate to fund, how he’s investing in founders outside major markets and the state of the current VC market

Our guest today is Nick Moran, General Partner of New Stack Ventures. New Stack's mission is to invest in the Outsiders. Nick is also the host of The Full Ratchet. We discuss why he’s bearish about Web 3 short term, how he thinks about deploying capital in this current market and how he thinks about long-term sustainability of a company when he invests. Without further ado, here’s Nick. Some of the questions I ask: You’re long Web 3, but during the short term you aren’t investing in it. Mind exp...