362 episodes

The Consumer VC takes a look into early-stage consumer investing and venture capital. If you are interested in learning about consumer trends, have a b2c business and interested in learning about the fundraising process at the early stage, you have come to the right place.

Mike interviews some of the top venture capitalists in the world that focus on B2C and consumer type companies or have a deep track record investing in these categories such as marketplaces, SaaS, social, CPG and non-tech subscription.

Mike also interviews founders that are building some of the most disruptive consumer facing companies in the world. The conversation usually includes the insight the founder discovered, fundraising strategy, and the pitch.

This podcast also includes bonus episodes. Each bonus episode dives into a particular subject that might not have to due with the fundraise or venture capital, but still would be helpful to founders. For example, a bonus episode on brand strategy or how to construct a board of directors. All bonus episodes will be clearly labeled.

For all episodes, please visit www.theconsumervc.com. For updates, you can follow @mikegelb on Twitter.

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

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 131 Ratings

The Consumer VC takes a look into early-stage consumer investing and venture capital. If you are interested in learning about consumer trends, have a b2c business and interested in learning about the fundraising process at the early stage, you have come to the right place.

Mike interviews some of the top venture capitalists in the world that focus on B2C and consumer type companies or have a deep track record investing in these categories such as marketplaces, SaaS, social, CPG and non-tech subscription.

Mike also interviews founders that are building some of the most disruptive consumer facing companies in the world. The conversation usually includes the insight the founder discovered, fundraising strategy, and the pitch.

This podcast also includes bonus episodes. Each bonus episode dives into a particular subject that might not have to due with the fundraise or venture capital, but still would be helpful to founders. For example, a bonus episode on brand strategy or how to construct a board of directors. All bonus episodes will be clearly labeled.

For all episodes, please visit www.theconsumervc.com. For updates, you can follow @mikegelb on Twitter.

    What Gives a Brand Acquisition Energy with Amrit Richmond

    What Gives a Brand Acquisition Energy with Amrit Richmond

    Our guest today is Amrit Richmond, Founder of Indie CPG since 2019, and has also joined SecureCPG recently

    We discuss:
    • What gives a food and drink brand accusation energy?
    • What are the different profiles of the acquire today?
    • Why acquire emerging brands?

    Thank you to our Partner –– Propeller Industries
    Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies.

    • 52 min
    He Worked with JAY-Z, Was an Olympian, and Now Runs a VC with Samyr Lainé, Founder of Freedom Trail Capital

    He Worked with JAY-Z, Was an Olympian, and Now Runs a VC with Samyr Lainé, Founder of Freedom Trail Capital

    Our guest today is Samyr Lainé, an Olympian, an amazing operator who worked with Jay-Z's, Will Smith and Jada Pickett Smith who is now the founder of Freedom Trail Capital.

    We discuss:
    • How he trained for the Olympics while being a full time law student
    • Working at Monumental Sports (owners of the Washington Capitals and Wizards)
    • Shifting towards the MLS
    • Getting the email that Jay-Z was looking for someone to help run his businesses
    • All of Jay-Z's businesses
    • His view on how brands can collaborate with talent
    • Why he left to work for Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's Westbrook
    • His thesis behind launching Freedom Trail Capital

    Thank you to our Partner –– Propeller Industries
    Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies.

    • 1 hr 13 min
    How He Built A Business Off a Fruit Peel, The Shocking Moment of Getting into Retail, and How One Chat Changed His Trajectory with Matt Weiss Founder & CEO at Rind Snacks

    How He Built A Business Off a Fruit Peel, The Shocking Moment of Getting into Retail, and How One Chat Changed His Trajectory with Matt Weiss Founder & CEO at Rind Snacks

    Our guest today is Matt Weiss, Founder & CEO at RIND Snacks

    Matt is the CEO of RIND Snacks, a sustainable fruit snack brand. He has over a decade of experience in the natural food industry and previously worked in investment research. Matt is also known for his advocacy in community and environmental causes, founding a nonprofit that helped establish a park in lower Manhattan.

    We discuss:
    • We discuss the inspiration behind creating a brand and a product that focuses on the peels of a fruit
    • How did he first get into retail?
    • Why he was part-time with it for two years? 
    • What was kind of the moment that he switched to doing it full-time?

    Thank you to our Partner –– Propeller Industries
    Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies.

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Selling Group Nine Media, The Evolution of New York's Startup Scene and The Future of Digital Media with Ben Lerer, Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau

    Selling Group Nine Media, The Evolution of New York's Startup Scene and The Future of Digital Media with Ben Lerer, Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau

    Our guest today is Ben Lerer. Ben Lerer is a Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau. Lerer Hippeau is a venture capital fund based in New York who were early investors in Warby Parker, Glossier, and Topicals. He also founded Thrillist, an online media website website back in 2004 and was former CEO of Group Nine Media until it was acquired by Vox Media.

    Thank you to our Partner –– Propeller Industries – https://www.propellerindustries.com/
    Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies.

    • 53 min
    How He Buys Multi-Million Dollar Brands with Fan Bi, Founder/CEO of The Hedgehog Company

    How He Buys Multi-Million Dollar Brands with Fan Bi, Founder/CEO of The Hedgehog Company

    Our guest today is Fan Bi, Founder & CEO of Hedgehog

    Fan Bi is the Founder & CEO of Hedgehog. He founded, grew, and exited many eCom + store menswear brands. He has been in DTC eCommerce for over 13 years. 

    We discuss:
    • How was Fan was introduced to entrepreneurship and what things he found compelling about man's fashion?
    • What multiples were used for early-stage digital brands?
    • Why he started Hedgehog?
    • What to make of the current market and how do you see it in the future?

    Thank you to our Partner –– Propeller Industries – https://www.propellerindustries.com/
    Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies.

    • 46 min
    What is a Cult Brand? With Sarah Woelfel, Co-Founder & Partner at Cult Capital

    What is a Cult Brand? With Sarah Woelfel, Co-Founder & Partner at Cult Capital

    Our guest today is Sarah Woelfel, Co-Founder & Partner at Cult Capital. She combines her zeal for investing with her affection for cult consumer brands. Their investments include Supergoop!, Babo Botanicals, and Lawless Beauty. Prior to CULT Capital, Sarah served on the investment team at Audax and as an I-banking analyst at Deutsche Bank.
    -----------
    Thank you to our partner Propeller Industries
    Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies.

    • 1 hr 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
131 Ratings

131 Ratings

klarajag ,

Fun interview with Daniel Gluck

I highly enjoyed it!

bussie110 ,

My Favorite Podcast For CPG

As a CPG founder, CEO and passionate student of the space, I love Mike’s podcast. Mike always has top tier guests, asks insightful questions and delivers informative content. I’m thankful for the golden nuggets found in each episode. Highly recommend!

bretbball1212 ,

MUST listen for business and non-business people

Mike does a great job bringing on an amazing variety of guests to talk about their companies, backgrounds, challenges, and advice. I’ve discovered new companies I was never aware of and learned a lot about a variety of industries that I never knew (ex. the distribution laws that vary between beer, wine and spirits).

If you’re interested in starting a business, listen to this podcast

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