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

This episode is brought to you by Highbeam.

Highbeam is the all-in-one banking and cash management platform built for consumer brands – https://www.highbeam.co/capital?partn… 

Join host Mike Gelb as he chats with Shamin Walsh, Managing Director at BAM Ventures — the early-stage VC firm behind Thrive Market, Honey, and Cotopaxi.

Shamin breaks down how BAM spots winning startups early, why fund size shapes strategy, and what it really takes to build sticky consumer brands — without chasing unicorn hype.

From AI buzz to price discipline and founder fit, this episode is packed with practical insights for anyone building or backing a consumer company.

🕒 Timestamps

00:00 What Makes AI Actually Valuable

01:22 Intro – Who is Shamin Walsh & BAM Ventures?

03:44 Why She Joined BAM & What Makes the Firm Different

07:00 Is Consumer Still Sexy? (Hint: Yes, If You Do It Right)

10:07 Power Law Returns in CPG & Brand Exits

13:21 Why Fund Size Dictates Strategy

16:10 Balancing Brand, Commerce Infra & Consumer Tech

17:30 What BAM Looks for in Founders

20:15 Case Study: How Thrive Market Nailed Consumer Behavior

23:15 The Danger of False Signals in Consumer Startups

26:00 How BAM Thinks About Reserves & Follow-Ons

28:20 Staying Price Disciplined (Even in the 2021 Hype Cycle)

30:00 Why Founders Pick BAM Over Bigger Funds

32:00 Capital Efficiency ≠ Always Bootstrapping

35:09 Fundraising Strategy & How to Navigate Future Rounds

37:00 What Early Traction Signals Actually Matter

39:10 How BAM Measures Stickiness vs. Trendiness

44:00 Could a New Social Platform Still Win?

46:00 BAM’s View on AI: Not a Strategy, Just a Tool

48:00 ⚡ Rapid Fire Round: Trends, Products, Books

52:00 Why “The Little Prince” Still Inspires Shamin

📬 Subscribe to The Consumer VC newsletter for startup trends:

https://www.theconsumervc.com/ 

🎧 Listen on:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hjm74Z… 

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast… 

Youtube →https://www.youtube.com/@consumervc

Follow Mike:

Twitter / Instagram / TikTok → @mikegelb / @consumervc

This episode is brought to you by Highbeam.

Highbeam is the all-in-one banking and cash management platform built for consumer brands – https://www.highbeam.co/capital?partnerId=consumervc

In this episode of The Consumer VC, Mike Gelb sits down with Chris Kirby, founder of Ithaca Hummus, to uncover how he turned a local farmer’s market stand into a $50M+ premium food brand — without traditional VC funding.

Chris shares:

Why he left fine dining to build a CPG brand

How Ithaca Hummus was born at a student farmer’s market

Selling without brokers & scaling through scrappy growth

Why they said NO to VCs and focused on unit economics & velocity

How packaging and taste-first branding drove national expansion

Strategic partnerships that led to explosive revenue jumps

🔥 If you're a CPG founder, emerging brand, or curious about bootstrapping a premium product, don’t miss this.

🕒 Timestamps

00:00 - Opening Quote: The Magic of Farmer’s Markets

03:24 - From Fine Dining to Culinary Burnout

06:36 - Discovering a Gap in Ithaca’s Food Scene

10:46 - Launching Ithaca Hummus from a Camp Kitchen

13:54 - The Addictive Energy of Farmer’s Markets

19:15 - No Brokers: Selling to Co-ops Door-to-Door

24:33 - Sampling, Promotions & Retailer Education

28:10 - $1M to $3.5M: Strategic Investment from Co-Man

33:50 - Saying No to VCs: Building Without External Pressure

37:17 - What Strategic Actually Means in CPG

41:50 - Branding, Packaging & the Power of “Owning Taste”

45:33 - Creating Viral Flavors (e.g. French Onion Hummus)

47:59 - Graza x Ithaca: Strategic Co-Branded Launch

50:00 - Long-Term Vision: Legacy, Not Liquidity

53:50 - Lightning Round: Books, Beliefs & Brands

#venturecapital #consumervc #vcfunding 

—

📬 Subscribe to The Consumer VC newsletter for startup trends:

https://www.theconsumervc.com/

🎧 Listen on:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hjm74Z...

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...

📲Follow Mike:

Twitter / Instagram / TikTok → @mikegelb / @consumervc

#venturecapital #consumervc  

Join host Mike Gelb on The Consumer VC as he talks with Sid Banthiya — investor, advisor, and former CSO at Milk Bar. In this episode, Sid dives deep into consumer startup dynamics, term sheet red flags, and how founders can scale smarter (not louder).

Learn why many startups fall into the trap of "venture validation," when bootstrapping is better, and how to navigate hot markets without losing your edge. Sid also reveals why understanding liquidation preferences is critical for founders and shares trends in CPG, e-commerce, and supplements.

This episode is brought to you by Highbeam.

Highbeam is the all-in-one banking and cash management platform built for consumer brands. Apply Here for Flexible Capital

Whether you're raising capital, launching a product, or scaling a DTC brand, this is a masterclass on thoughtful company-building and founder alignment.

👇 Timestamps

00:00 Intro & Podcast Overview

00:47 Why Sid Wrote “Avoiding the Road to Mediocrity” 03:12 The Venture Trap: Chasing Capital vs. Solving Problems 06:00 Is VC the Right Path for Every Founder?

08:31 Fundraising Focus vs. Revenue Focus

10:00 The Rise of Too Much Capital in VC

13:10 Can Founders Course-Correct Their Mission?

16:00 Case Study: Hungryroot’s Strategic Pivot

18:25 How to Decide if You Should Start a Company

20:00 Bootstrap vs. Venture: When and Why

22:50 Go Slow or Scale Fast? What Founders Should Know 26:00 Investing in Hot Markets: Supplements, Protein & More

29:00 Valuation vs. Exit Reality: Why Price Discipline Matters 32:00 Waterfalls, Liquidation Preferences & Founder Equity 37:00 The Case for a “Better Business Bureau” for Investors 41:00 What Makes a VC Truly Valuable

44:00 Rapid Fire: Consumer Trends, Favorite Products, VC Myths

52:00 Sid’s Book Recommendations

Subscribe for more VC insights and startup strategies:

📰 Newsletter → https://www.theconsumervc.com/

🎧 Apple → Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify → Spotify

📲 IG / TikTok / Twitter → @mikegelb

Mathew Focht is the Founding Managing Partner of EMERGING, a $100M growth capital fund investing in the future of restaurant-tech and entertainment.

In this episode of The Consumer VC, Mathew breaks down how EMERGING helps scale innovative hospitality concepts like F1® Arcade, BatBox, Puttshack, and more. We explore why the intersection of restaurants, entertainment, and technology is such a powerful space for venture capital, how they evaluate scalable concepts, and what makes EMERGING different from traditional investors.

You’ll learn:

• Why eatertainment is booming post-COVID

• What metrics EMERGING looks at before writing $2–8M checks

• How restaurant-tech is evolving for both consumers and operators

• What makes a concept scalable, profitable, and defensible

• Why EMERGING focuses on experience + IP, not just margins

If you're curious about how tech is transforming food and entertainment, and what it takes to build the next big concept, this episode is a must-listen.

Join our weekly newsletter : ⁠theconsumervc.com⁠

#venturecapital #restauranttech #consumerinnovation #mathewfocht #emergingfund #hospitalitytech #consumervc

#consumervc #venturecapital #aicontentcreation Join host Mike Gelb on The Consumer VC as he talks with Ishan Sinha, Partner at Point72 Ventures.In this episode, Ishan shares insights into the evolving role of AI in consumer startups, the challenges of AI-driven media, and the future of monetization for creators. He discusses the impact of AI on intellectual property, whether VCs are still underestimating consumer AI, and how AI-powered businesses can scale effectively. Ishan also breaks down venture capital trends, investment strategies, and lessons from past market cycles. For an insightful conversation at the intersection of AI, venture capital, and consumer innovation, check out the full episode!📩 Get Exclusive Insights & Deals 👉 [Insert Newsletter Link] 00:00 Introduction & Podcast Overview 00:45 Why Did Point72 Start a VC Fund? 03:10 From Public Market Investing to Venture Capital 06:05 Are VCs Underestimating Consumer AI? 09:50 AI in Media & Content Creation 12:30 AI vs. The Music Industry 16:20 Lessons from Napster to Spotify 19:15 How AI Can Benefit Artists & Creators 22:40 The Future of AI in Publishing & Journalism 25:30 How AI is Reshaping Consumer Tech 28:45 Investing in AI Startups: What VCs Look For 32:05 The Role of AI in Business Models & Monetization 35:00 Will the Next Big AI Innovation Look Like a Toy? 38:15 Lightning Round: Biggest Consumer Trends, Myths About VC & More 41:30 Final Takeaways & Where to Follow Ishan Sinha................Subscribe to Our Newsletter:https://www.theconsumervc.com/Subscribe on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hjm74Z...Subscribe on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...Follow on Twitter: / mikegelb Follow on Instagram: / mikegelb Follow on TikTok: / consumervc

Join host Mike Gelb on The Consumer VC as he talks with Preston Rutherford, co-founder of Chubbies. In this episode, Preston delves into their founding journey, tackling topics like why they raised VC money, overcoming early manufacturing challenges, and evolving their brand strategy. He shares insights into achieving product-market fit, the importance of balancing short-term and long-term goals, and navigating the challenges of scaling and profitability. Post-Chubbies, Preston also discusses his new venture, Marathon, and its mission to help brands measure the impact of brand building. For informative and entertaining content on the intersections of venture capital and consumer innovation, check out the full episode.00:00 Introduction01:24 Introducing Preston Rutherford of Chubbies01:34 The Founding Journey of Chubbies06:12 Challenges in Early Manufacturing09:21 Building a Brand Identity23:34 Raising Capital and Financial Challenges26:28 The Early Days and Initial Challenges26:55 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics29:04 Pressure and Growth Metrics31:20 Shifting Focus to EBITDA34:42 The Decision to Sell Chubbies40:11 Channel Expansion and Inventory Management43:19 Lessons in Brand Marketing46:53 Reflections and Future Insights54:56 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Having transitioned from founding companies to supporting early-stage ventures, YC shares his passion for creating consumer-centric solutions across diverse industries. From media and sports technology to consumer goods, he reflects on shifting his focus from generating ideas himself to aiding under-managed ventures with effective execution and strategic capital alignment. YC's enthusiasm for collaborating with founders to scale their businesses offers listeners valuable insights into the entrepreneurial world.(0:00:00) - Intro(0:14:47) - Innovation in Gaming and Acquisition(0:24:06) - Innovation in Large Corporations(0:28:19) - Pivoting Hero Bread to Success(0:40:52) - Consumer Brand Transition and GrowthSubscribe to Our Newsletter:https://www.theconsumervc.com/Subscribe on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hjm74Z...Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...Follow on Twitter: / mikegelb Follow on Instagram: / mikegelb Follow on TikTok: / consumervc

Thank you to our presenting partner –– Propeller Industries https://www.propellerindustries.com/ Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Our guest today is Jeff Byers, CEO of Momentous. Momentous produces and sells best in class human performance products. Previously, Jeff Byers founded Amp Human and later acquired Momentous, merging the two companies. He’s also a former professional football player and played at USC in college (Fight On✌️) 00:00 Welcome to The Consumer VC 00:40 Introducing Jeff Byers and Momentous 02:02 Jeff Byers' Transition from NFL to Entrepreneurship 04:31 The Birth of Amp Human and Momentous 07:46 Challenges and Innovations in Supplement Industry 14:17 Acquisition of Momentous and Future Plans 25:37 Navigating the Supplement Market 33:25 Sourcing and Trust in Supplements 34:12 Challenges in the Supplement Industry 34:29 Transparency Issues in Ingredient Sourcing 37:30 The Problem with Chinese Creatine 40:49 Commoditization of Supplements 46:23 Importance of Protein, Omegas, and Creatine 53:08 Momentous' Approach to Supplements 58:04 Building Trust and Transparency 01:02:26 Books that Inspire 01:06:21 Final Thoughts and Conclusion Subscribe to Our Newsletter: https://www.theconsumervc.com/ Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hjm74Z... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast... Follow on Twitter: / mikegelb Follow on Instagram: / mikegelb Follow on TikTok: / consumervc

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.

Our guest on today’s episode is Daniel Faierman, Partner at Habitat Partners. Habitat Partners is an early-stage venture fund that is part of Red Antler. Red Antler is one of the premier branding and marketing agencies. We focus this conversation on Habitat Partners investment strategy. The relationship with Red Antler, why they both invest in consumer brands and software businesses, the differences in the underwriting process in each of these business types, why for them it makes to have two strategies, how he thinks about returns.

00:00 Introduction

02:04 Daniel's Journey into Food and Beverage

04:13 Challenges of Innovation in Big CPG Companies

08:05 The Role of Strategic Partners in Scaling Brands

09:34 Red Antler's Venture into Investment

19:54 Habitat Partners' Investment Strategy

28:29 Sourcing and Red Antler's Impact

29:55 Introducing Propeller Industries

30:49 Key Metrics for Consumer Brands

34:19 Navigating Competitive Investment Landscapes

34:46 The Role of Creative in CPG and B2B SaaS

37:21 Transitioning from Health and Wellness to B2B SaaS

40:06 The Importance of AI in SaaS

43:35 Evaluating Founders and Teams

46:46 Lightning Round: Trends, Myths, and Personal Insights

54:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts