From 2% to 50% Over Goal: How Women-Led CPG Brands Are Rewriting Venture Capital Rules

Despite women starting nearly half of all businesses in the US, less than 2% of venture capital funding goes to female founders. But Carrie Colbert, CEO and founder of Curate Capital, is changing that equation—and proving there's serious money to be made in the process.

In this episode, Carmel Fisher sits down with former petroleum engineer turned VC powerhouse Carrie reveals how she built a fund that overshot its fundraising goal by 50% by focusing exclusively on women-led consumer brands. She breaks down her "influential investment" model that turns influencers into equity partners, explains why CPG brands need more than pretty packaging to scale, and shares the four key categories driving returns in consumer goods.

Key insights for CPG founders and brands seeking funding:

• Why owning your supply chain matters more than viral marketing
• The late seed/early Series A funding sweet spot and what investors look for
• How to build "intrinsic value" that makes your brand acquisition-ready
• Real examples from portfolio companies solving everyday problems (from epidural accuracy to inclusive beauty)
• The insider criteria VCs use to evaluate consumer brands

Perfect for: CPG founders seeking venture capital, consumer brand executives exploring funding options, and anyone curious about the intersection of influencer marketing and venture investing.

Whether you're building the next breakthrough beauty brand or revolutionizing home products, Carrie's practical advice on building fundable businesses could be the difference between bootstrapping forever and scaling with serious capital backing.

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