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

Welcome to The Consumer VC, a podcast newsletter about venture capital and consumer. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.

This episode of The Consumer VC is brought to you by aVenture - venture capital for everyone.

With aVenture everyone can now invest directly into venture capital funds through our platform while also benefiting from periodic liquidity options. For fund managers, aVenture can help streamline your operations while providing the infrastructure to raise from accredited & non-accredited investors.

aVenture believes this will revolutionize the venture capital industry by unlocking a latent supply of capital from public investors.

Disclosures: aVenture is a San Francisco, California-based financial technology company that permits users to launch, manage and invest in venture funds on its platform aVenture operates independently of any investment advisors on its platform. Certain funds listed on the aVenture platform are provided by independent fund managers and may be registered as investment advisors in the U.S., or qualify for exempt reporting status.

Hey Friends,

Our guest today is Annie Kadavy, Managing Director at RedPoint Ventures. Redpoint partners with exceptional entrepreneurs starting at the earliest stages of the climb some of her investments include Tend, Shash, and Silk & Sonder. We discuss her introduction to entrepreneurship building in her garage, tiptoeing the line throughout her career between operator and investor, the business models she’s intrigued by, and investible in her opinion. Without further ado, here’s Annie.

We discuss:

* Building products in her garage

* How she founded BetterSitter

* Becoming a GP at CRV Ventures

* How she invested ClassPass, DoorDash, Patreon

* What it was like working at Uber

* Business models that work for VC

* Why she joined RedPoint Ventures

Hope you enjoy listening.

Welcome to The Consumer VC, a podcast newsletter about venture capital and consumer. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.

This episode of The Consumer VC is brought to you by aVenture - venture capital for everyone.

With aVenture everyone can now invest directly into venture capital funds through our platform while also benefiting from periodic liquidity options. For fund managers, aVenture can help streamline your operations while providing the infrastructure to raise from accredited & non-accredited investors.

aVenture believes this will revolutionize the venture capital industry by unlocking a latent supply of capital from public investors.

Disclosures: aVenture is a San Francisco, California-based financial technology company that permits users to launch, manage and invest in venture funds on its platform aVenture operates independently of any investment advisors on its platform. Certain funds listed on the aVenture platform are provided by independent fund managers and may be registered as investment advisors in the U.S., or qualify for exempt reporting status.

Hey Friends,

Our guest today is Chris Ashenden, Founder & CEO of Athletic Greens and AG1. AG1 is the world’s most comprehensive and convenient daily nutrition product in green powder form.

We discuss:

* Why he founded Athletic Greens

* Approach to powder formulation

* How he met Tim Ferriss

* How he built relationships with customers

* How he created a subscription business and a new consumer habit

* Why he bootstrapped to $150m in revenue before fundraising

Thank you for listening.

Welcome to The Consumer VC, a podcast newsletter about venture capital and consumer. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.

This episode of The Consumer VC is brought to you by aVenture - venture capital for everyone.

With aVenture everyone can now invest directly into venture capital funds through our platform while also benefiting from periodic liquidity options. For fund managers, aVenture can help streamline your operations while providing the infrastructure to raise from accredited & non-accredited investors.

aVenture believes this will revolutionize the venture capital industry by unlocking a latent supply of capital from public investors.

Disclosures: aVenture is a San Francisco, California-based financial technology company that permits users to launch, manage and invest in venture funds on its platform aVenture operates independently of any investment advisors on its platform. Certain funds listed on the aVenture platform are provided by independent fund managers and may be registered as investment advisors in the U.S., or qualify for exempt reporting status.

Hey Friends,

Thank you Luke Vernon for the intro to our guest today Davis Smith, Founder & CEO of Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi builds gear that fuels both outdoor experiences and global change.

We discuss:

* What led him to found digitally-native businesses – pool tables, diapers, and now apparel

* What it’s like founding a business with your cousin

* The mission behind Cotopaxi

* The differences between Cotopaxi and Patagonia

* How he raised capital

* How he found llamas

* The early approach to promotion for Cotopaxi

* When he opened up retail stores

* Why he shut down their store in San Francisco

Thank you for listening

Welcome to The Consumer VC, a podcast newsletter about venture capital and consumer. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.

This episode of The Consumer VC is brought to you by aVenture - venture capital for everyone.

With aVenture everyone can now invest directly into venture capital funds through our platform while also benefiting from periodic liquidity options. For fund managers, aVenture can help streamline your operations while providing the infrastructure to raise from accredited & non-accredited investors.

aVenture believes this will revolutionize the venture capital industry by unlocking a latent supply of capital from public investors.

Disclosures: aVenture is a San Francisco, California-based financial technology company that permits users to launch, manage and invest in venture funds on its platform aVenture operates independently of any investment advisors on its platform. Certain funds listed on the aVenture platform are provided by independent fund managers and may be registered as investment advisors in the U.S., or qualify for exempt reporting status.

Hey Friends,

Our guest today is Matt Higgins, Founder & CEO of RSE Ventures. RSE is a private investment firm that focuses on sports and entertainment, media and marketing, food and lifestyle, and technology. Most recently he wrote “Burn The Boats”, which is a counterintuitive formula for a life of perpetual growth. Some of their investments include Vaynermedia, Milk Bar, Magic Spoon and Banza.

We discuss:

* Why he pivoted his career from the public sector to the private sector

* Working for the NY Jets and Miami Dolphins

* How he met Gary Vee & why he invested in Vaynermedia

* Incubating Resy

* Becoming a guest shark on SharkTank

* How to leverage the direct-to-consumer channel

* Why he likes investing in restaurants

* Why he bought a pickleball team

Thank you for listening

Welcome to The Consumer VC, a podcast newsletter about venture capital and consumer. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.

This episode of The Consumer VC is brought to you by aVenture - venture capital for everyone.

With aVenture everyone can now invest directly into venture capital funds through our platform while also benefiting from periodic liquidity options. For fund managers, aVenture can help streamline your operations while providing the infrastructure to raise from accredited & non-accredited investors.

aVenture believes this will revolutionize the venture capital industry by unlocking a latent supply of capital from public investors.

Disclosures: aVenture is a San Francisco, California-based financial technology company that permits users to launch, manage and invest in venture funds on its platform aVenture operates independently of any investment advisors on its platform. Certain funds listed on the aVenture platform are provided by independent fund managers and may be registered as investment advisors in the U.S., or qualify for exempt reporting status.

Hey Friends,

Our guest today is Josh Cliffords, Founder & CEO of FreeWater. They give away water and make money by selling ads on the bottle.

We discuss:

* The economics of an ad-based physical product business

* How he approached distribution and finding sponsors

* Trying to raise investment from VCs

* Going viral on TikTok

* How FreeWater will enter supermarkets

* Why vending machines will be the next evolution of FreeWater

Thanks for listening

Welcome to The Consumer VC, a podcast newsletter about venture capital and consumer. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.

This episode of The Consumer VC is brought to you by aVenture - venture capital for everyone.

With aVenture everyone can now invest directly into venture capital funds through our platform while also benefiting from periodic liquidity options. For fund managers, aVenture can help streamline your operations while providing the infrastructure to raise from accredited & non-accredited investors.

aVenture believes this will revolutionize the venture capital industry by unlocking a latent supply of capital from public investors.

Disclosures: aVenture is a San Francisco, California-based financial technology company that permits users to launch, manage and invest in venture funds on its platform aVenture operates independently of any investment advisors on its platform. Certain funds listed on the aVenture platform are provided by independent fund managers and may be registered as investment advisors in the U.S., or qualify for exempt reporting status.

Hey Friends,

Our guest today is Sean Riley, co-founder and CEO of DUDE Wipes. DUDE Wipes makes billions of flushable wipes.

We discuss:

* Why he and his friends decided to start a wipes company

* Approach to product innovation and sourcing

* Getting on SharkTank and raising from Mark Cuban

* When it makes sense to expand product variety

* How they scaled to $90 million in annual sales

Thanks for listening.

Welcome to The Consumer VC, a podcast newsletter about venture capital and consumer. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.

Hey Friends,

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 balance between retention and growth

* Her due diligence process and how she measures traction

Thanks for listening.

Welcome to The Consumer VC, a podcast newsletter about venture capital and consumer. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.

Hey Friends,

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 business

* The ultimate goal when SnackFutures makes an investment

* What value add means

* Snack trends

Thanks for listening.

Hey friends,

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 difference in investing in food tech vs. brands

* When to vertically integrate

* How founders should approach their cap table

* The future of food

Thanks for listening.

Hey friends,

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&G and became CEO of Tide Cleaners

* The founding story of The 81 Collection

* Why investing in hardware is under rated