In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Hannah Dittman speaks with Andrew Montgomery, Partner at Collaborative Fund, about building successful brands at the intersection of for-profit and for-good. Andrew shares his career journey across operations, brand building, and investing on his path to Collaborative Fund.

He outlines the firm’s investment philosophy, including their “villain test,” and offers detailed guidance on pitching to investors, identifying enduring consumer trends, and structuring effective fundraising strategies. Andrew also provides practical advice on evaluating investor–founder alignment, building momentum during a raise, and navigating long-term partnerships.

Listen to gain actionable insights on positioning your brand for growth, attracting the right capital, and fostering relationships that support your vision.

Listen in as they share about:

• Andrew’s Career Background
• Collaborative Fund’s Investment Philosophy
• Investment Criteria & Evaluation Process
• Traits of Strong Founders
• Trends, Categories & Theses
• Fundraising Timing & Strategy
• Advice for Founders Seeking Investment

Episode Links:

Website: https://collabfund.com/
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwmontgomery/ 

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

• Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
• Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)
• Follow @startupcpg
• Visit host Hannah's Linkedin 
• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at [email protected]
• Episode music by Super Fantastics