Industry Voices

In this episode, Gemma Monclus talks with Scott Van den Berg, founder of HotStart VC, whose team has worked on over 55 celebrity and creator-founded brands, including Feastables with MrBeast and The Honest Company with Jessica Alba.

They unpack:

• How HotStart evaluates celebrity and creator-led brands

• Why some, like Skims and Fenty, endure while others fade

• The importance of celebrity–product fit, storytelling, and community

• What it takes for a celebrity to be more than just a face on the packaging

If you’re curious about what makes celebrity-founded brands succeed and what causes them to flop, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Gemma Monclus talks with Anne Kurtz, early-stage investor, brand strategist, and expert at spotting untapped opportunities in consumer — about how to identify real white space in the market and back brands with staying power.

They unpack:

• How to spot consumer opportunities before they hit mainstream awareness
• The difference between being early… and being too early
• Why “unsexy” categories like elder care and postpartum health are ripe for innovation
• How investors can avoid chasing hype and instead build conviction around lasting brands
• The role of capital, branding, and timing in determining which ideas scale

If you’re curious about the future of consumer investing, overlooked market gaps, or how to back brands with real staying power, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Gemma Monclus talks with Elena Popovici; growth strategist, ecosystem builder, and advisor to VC funds and underrepresented founders, about why content is no longer a nice-to-have, but a strategic edge in venture capital.

They unpack:

• How content has shifted from a marketing tool to core infrastructure inside forward-thinking funds
• Why funds that act like media brands are winning the trust of top founders and LPs
• What separates content that resonates from generic “thought leadership”
• How strong positioning, storytelling, and community-first strategies can shape the perception of a fund long before a pitch
• Real examples of content-led growth from inside Europe’s innovation landscape

If you're curious about the future of VC visibility, founder-first thinking, or how content can become your fund’s sharpest differentiator, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Gemma Monclus talks with Roz Samimi, founder of Banu and part of the Sephora Accelerate 2024 cohort, about building an acne care brand that treats people, not just pimples.

They unpack:

• Why acne, a condition affecting over 50 million Americans, is still underserved despite the category’s projected $17B market size

• How Banu is formulating with intention, prioritizing ingredient rigor, clinical testing across all skin tones, and emotional clarity

• What it means to design acne care for adults, not only adolescents, and why so many legacy brands still miss the mark

• The role of community, empathy, and science in Banu’s brand architecture

• What Roz has learned from being part of Sephora’s Accelerate program and how it’s shaped Banu’s early strategy

If you're interested in the future of skincare, the redefinition of acne as a long-term skin type, or how to build an emotionally intelligent beauty brand from day one, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Gemma Monclus talks with Kiran Mehta, a former VC turned operator, about a contrarian approach to early-stage investing: single check funds that invest once and never follow on.

They unpack:

• Why the traditional VC logic of follow-on investments might be flawed
• How single check funds can reduce signaling risk and align interests better between founders and investors
• The cultural and market differences between UK and US venture ecosystems, especially regarding exit sizes and founder secondaries
• The challenges founders face with multi-round investors and the importance of clear capital strategies
• Key disciplines needed to make single check fund models work consistently in today’s market

If you want to rethink venture capital norms and explore a bold thesis on how early-stage funding could evolve, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Gemma is joined by Ayesha Ofori — founder of Propelle, a female-focused investment platform backed by Google, Atomico, and Goldman Sachs, to explore the evolving landscape of financial education for women.

We cover:

• The $31.8 trillion women control globally and the persistent gender wealth gap

• How technology, AI, and behavioral insights are personalizing financial education

• The unique financial behaviors and goals shaping women’s investment strategies

• The challenges and opportunities in creating tailored wealth-building tools for diverse female segments

• Why nimbleness and deep listening are key to driving meaningful change in financial services for women

A thoughtful, insight-rich episode for anyone interested in the future of finance, fintech innovation, and empowering women to take control of their financial futures.

In this episode, Gemma is joined by Suad Fakih — investor, operator, and founder of Suad’s Gems — to unpack the seismic shifts shaping the future of consumer brands.

We cover:

• The white space in resale and infrastructure
• How loyalty is evolving through experiences and culture
• The rise of science-led beauty, AI diagnostics & wellness convergence
• 6 traits that define high-potential brands today
• Why the biggest opportunities lie in invisible layers: backend tech, infra & supply chains
• And how investors can better track changing consumer behavior

A thoughtful, insight-rich episode for anyone investing in (or building) the future of fashion, beauty and wellness.

Joining me is Carlota Rodben — author, entrepreneur, and former Head of Innovation at CHANEL, to explore how the foundations of luxury are being redefined.

We unpack:
💎 Luxury resale as a cultural shift, not just a trend.
🔗 The role of blockchain in provenance. From LVMH’s Aura to Prada’s NFTs, we explore how traceability is becoming a new marker of authenticity.
📦 The end of distribution as we knew it.
🧠 And what it all means for brands seeking to balance heritage with modern relevance.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone watching how tech, culture, and consumer values are transforming legacy industries.

In this episode, we unpack one of the most urgent questions facing modern DTC brands: what growth channels are they still missing, and why does it matter more than ever?

Joining us is Tracy, co-founder of TNGE, the growth partner behind multiple 8–9 figure beauty, wellness, and lifestyle brands.

We discuss:
📊 Where the biggest delta lies between consumer attention and brand focus.
🛒 How platform-native behaviors on TikTok and Amazon are rewriting the rules of growth, and where brands are falling behind.
📺 Which overlooked formats hold the key to scaling beyond traditional paid ads.
🧪 And more!

In this episode, we unpack one of the most urgent questions facing modern brands: is the future of branding immersive?

Joining us is Anne-Liese Prem, Head of Cultural Insights & Trends at LOOP and a leading voice at the intersection of emerging tech and cultural strategy.

We discuss:

🧠 Why play, participation & cultural curiosity are key to future-proofing brands

🕶️ Which immersive technologies are here to stay—and which are just hype

🎮 How Gen Z is reshaping brand identity through digital self-expression
⚠️ What brands get wrong when chasing innovation

A must-listen for anyone building in brand, culture, or the evolving world of immersive consumer experiences.