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

Overview

Episodes

Details

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.

Recent Episodes

DEC 10, 2024

Is AI the Sole Future of Consumer Tech, What's Missing in Social & Will Glasses Be The Consumer Platform with Bryan Kim, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz

In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to host Bryan Kim, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, for an insightful conversation on the intersection of venture capital and consumer innovation. Brian shares his remarkable journey from a thriving career in investment banking to becoming a driving force in the tech industry. He opens up about the transformative experience of working with Alibaba during its groundbreaking IPO and how it inspired his pivot toward partnering with visionary founders. 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. (0:00:00) - Intro (0:08:51) - Snap's Early Growth and User Engagement (0:20:32) - AI Innovation in Consumer Companies (0:35:26) - Founders and AI Innovation Trends (0:44:22) - The Future of Social Products (0:52:49) - Revolutionizing Revenue Models With AI (0:57:49) - Book for Growth and Inspiration 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

61 MIN

NOV 13, 2024

How Choosing the Best Food for Your Dog Can Add Years to Their Life & The Problem with The Legacy Pet Food Market with Terri Rockovich, Co-Founder & CEO of Jinx

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.

Thank you Jerry Staub for the intro to our guest today is Terri Rockovich, Founder & CEO of Jinx. Jinx is a dog food brand that offers premium kibble, homemade toppers, and beef crumbles and are made by a team of pet nutritionists and veterinarians.

We discuss:

How legacy brands create their dog food
The inspiration behind Jinx
Her nutrition philosophy for pets
Sourcing the right manufacturing partners & convincing them to work on Jinx
Approach to testing if the product tastes good
The reasons why she raised venture money (most recently a Series B)
How she launched online
Why Walmart has been a great partner for a premium brand
Jinx’s market positioning compared to other premium dog food brands
Approach to launching SKUs & new products
How she thinks about celebrity partnerships & more

58 MIN

OCT 18, 2024

How He Went From the Music Industry to VC, Investing in Tech vs. Brands, and When Down Rounds Make Sense with Jon Keidan

n this episode with Jonathan Keidan, founder of Torch Capital, we dive into his journey from talent management in the music industry to early-stage venture capital. Jonathan shares how nurturing emerging artists parallels supporting founders, offering unique insights into spotting potential and overcoming challenges in both fields. He reveals key lessons learned from triumphs and setbacks in building impactful companies.

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.

(0:00:00) - Building Companies and Working With Founders

(0:10:23) - Investing in Technology vs Inventory Businesses

(0:14:48) - Investing in Consumer Brands and Tech

(0:29:06) - Founder's Focus on Building Trust

(0:38:57) - Funding Strategy and Market Insights

(0:51:14) - Navigating Early-Stage Investing Strategies

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

57 MIN

SEP 27, 2024

The Future of Gaming: Game Economies, New Business Models, Gamification, Blockchain Technology & AI Innovation with Brian Cho, Co-Founder of Patron

In this episode with Brian Cho, co-founder and general partner at Patron, we explore the intricacies of the gaming world's future. From the complexities of cross-currency games to the delicate balance of control and user flexibility within game economies, Brian offers his invaluable perspective. We delve into the sustainability of centralized models and the transformative potential of generative AI and blockchain technologies on the gaming landscape.

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.

(0:00:01) - Future of Gaming and Innovation

(0:03:47) - Gamification in Social Media and Investment

(0:09:08) - Building IP and Gamification in Gaming

(0:17:46) - Evolution of Gaming Business Models

(0:25:29) - Future of VR Platforms

(0:34:53) - Emerging Trends in Gaming Innovation

(0:46:10) - Gaming Industry Growth and Investment

57 MIN

SEP 6, 2024

The Evolution of Premium Products in Mainstream Retail with Marcel Bens, CEO of Emil Capital Partners

Today, we're diving into the secrets of successful early-stage investments in North American consumer brands with Marcel Bens, CEO of Emil Capital. In this episode, Marcel shares the unique strategy of Emil Capital’s hybrid venture firm, with its sharp focus on 'better-for-you' products and how it bridges the critical investment gap between angel investors and larger private equity firms. We’ll explore how they strategically deploy $1-5 million checks, backed by the rich history of the Tangleman Group, to drive growth and diversification across regions.

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.

0:00:28 - Why Do Consumers Pay a Premium for High-Quality Products?

0:07:04 - How Is the Investment Deployment Strategy Structured?

0:13:14 - What Are the Opportunities in Better-for-You Products?

0:19:01 - What Are the Market Strategies for Premium Products?

0:25:47 - How to Decode Nutrition Labels for Better Choices?

0:30:37 - How to Select the Right Brands at Conventions?

0:34:48 - How to Identify Niche Emerging Categories?

0:38:37 - How to Invest in Consumer Brands and Tech?

0:48:49 - What Is the Approach to Building a Company Brick by Brick?

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

50 MIN