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

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeHi Friends,On the latest episode of Consumer VC, I chat with Ishan Sinha, Partner at Point72 Ventures. Point72 Ventures is a global venture capital fund that builds on Steve Cohen's decades of public and private market investing experience. Ishan co-leads their consumer group.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.* Why Did Point72 Start a VC Fund?* From Public Market Investing to Venture Capital* Are VCs Underestimating Consumer AI?* AI in Media & Content Creation * AI vs. The Music Industry* Lessons from Napster to Spotify* How AI Can Benefit Artists & Creators* The Future of AI in Publishing & Journalism* How AI is Reshaping Consumer Tech* Investing in AI Startups: What VCs Look For* The Role of AI in Business Models & Monetization* Will the Next Big AI Innovation Look Like a Toy?* Lightning Round: Biggest Consumer Trends, Myths About VC & More 41:30 Final Takeaways & Where to Follow Ishan SinhaThanks for listening. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeHey friends,On today’s episode I interview Preston Rutherford, Co-Founder of Chubbies. Chubbies is the weekend apparel brand and leaders of the proper-length shorts revolution. Preston is also the founder of Marathon, the only platform that quantifies the revenue impact of brand.We discuss:* Challenges in Early Manufacturing* Building a Brand Identity* Raising Capital and Business Growth* Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics* Shifting Focus from top line to EBITDA* Pressure and Growth Metrics* The Decision to Sell Chubbies* Channel Expansion and Inventory Management* How to measure brand* What’s venture-backable in consumerEnjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeHi friends,Our guest today is YuChiang Cheng, CEO of Hero Bread. Hero Bread produces delicious real bread with benefits – 0g net carbs, 0g sugar, 45 calories per slice. Previously, he founded World Golf Tour, which was acquired by TopGolf where he became President of TopGolf Media after the acquisition.We discuss:* Founding World Golf Tour* Acquisition by TopGolf* Merging Digital and Physical Experiences at TopGolf* Discovering Hero Bread* Joining Hero Bread as Interim CMO* Pivoting from Food Service to DTC* Why he became CEO at Hero Bread* Challenges and Success in Retail * Driving Velocity and Consumer Demand * Leadership Transition to CEO* Lightning Round: Trends, Brands, and Innovations This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeThis Episode is Brought to You by Propeller Industries.Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thinking about profitability, extending your runway, and improving efficiency in your operations? Managing your company’s finances requires multiple skill sets. Propeller’s fractional model offers a dynamic solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time finance talent.Hey friends,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✌️)We discuss:* Jeff Byers' Transition from NFL to Entrepreneurship* The Birth of Amp Human and Momentous* Challenges and Innovations in Supplement Industry* Acquisition of Momentous and Future Plans* Navigating the Supplement Market* Sourcing and Trust in Supplements* Challenges in the Supplement Industry* Transparency Issues in Ingredient Sourcing* The Problem with Chinese Creatine* Commoditization of Supplements* Importance of Protein, Omegas, and Creatine* Momentous' Approach to Supplements This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeThis Episode is Brought to You by Propeller Industries.Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thinking about profitability, extending your runway, and improving efficiency in your operations? Managing your company’s finances requires multiple skill sets. Propeller’s fractional model offers a dynamic solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time finance talent.Hey friends,Happy New Year! 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.We discuss:* 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* 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 Are the only SaaS Opportunities AI* 43:35 Evaluating Founders and Teams* 46:46 Lightning Round: Trends, Myths, and Personal Insights This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeThis Episode is Brought to You by Propeller Industries.Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thinking about profitability, extending your runway, and improving efficiency in your operations? Managing your company’s finances requires multiple skill sets. Propeller’s fractional model offers a dynamic solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time finance talent.Hey friends,In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to chat with Bryan Kim, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Andreesen Horowitz is one of the largest venture capital firms in the world. Bryan is on the board at BeReal, Partiful, and Snackpass. He is also a board observer at Captions and ElevenLabs.We discuss:* How working on Alibaba’s IPO led him to a career in tech* How he got a job at Snap and Snap’s approach to adding new features* Does emerging consumer tech have to have an AI component?* The lost opportunity in social* Will glasses be the next form factor after the smartphone?* What will generate the most returns in AI – hardware/chips, apps, or foundational layers?* Approach to investing in prosumer companies* Common mistakes when scaling consumer tech companies* One contrarian belief he has about consumer tech & more This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeThis Episode is Brought to You by Propeller Industries.Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thinking about profitability, extending your runway, and improving efficiency in your operations? Managing your company’s finances requires multiple skill sets. Propeller’s fractional model offers a dynamic solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time finance talent.Hey friends,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 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeThis Episode is Brought to You by Propeller Industries.Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thinking about profitability, extending your runway, and improving efficiency in your operations? Managing your company’s finances requires multiple skill sets. Propeller’s fractional model offers a dynamic solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time finance talent.Hey friends,Our guest today is Jonathan Keidan, founder of Torch Capital. Torch Capital invests in visionary founders using technology to revolutionize how consumers and businesses operate. Their portfolio includes Sweetgreen, Recess, Savage X Fenty, good Weird, and Little Otter. Previously he was a manager in the music industry – working with artists like John Legend, The Dave Matthews Band.We discuss:* The similarities of venture and entertainment* Difference between fund 1 and fund 2* Why he shifted his focus away from brands and towards consumer infrastructure* When down rounds make sense* Analysis of this current market* Are consumer brands venture-backable* His diligence process & valuations today & more This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeThis Episode is Brought to You by Propeller Industries.Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thinking about profitability, extending your runway, and improving efficiency in your operations? Managing your company’s finances requires multiple skill sets. Propeller’s fractional model offers a dynamic solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time finance talent.Hey friends,So today’s episode is all about the gaming industry. Our guest today is Brian Cho, Co-Founder and General Partner at Patron. Patron is an early stage venture firm investing in a future shaped by games. Previously he was a founding member of a16z’s investment team and held senior leadership roles at Riot Games.We discuss:(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 InvestmentThank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTubeThis Episode is Brought to You by Propeller Industries.Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thinking about profitability, extending your runway, and improving efficiency in your operations? Managing your company’s finances requires multiple skill sets. Propeller’s fractional model offers a dynamic solution that provides a cost-effective alternative to hiring full-time finance talent.Hey friends,Our guest today is Marcel Bens, CEO of Emil Capital. Emil Capital is an early stage investment firm that backs the next generation of consumer brands. They are backed by Tengelmann Group which is one of the world’s largest private consumer goods holding companies today. Some of their investments include Renewal Mill, Wish, Uber, Milk + Honey.We discuss:* Why Do Consumers Pay a Premium for High-Quality Products?* How Is the Investment Deployment Strategy Structured?* What Are the Opportunities in Better-for-You Products?* What Are the Market Strategies for Premium Products?* How to Decode Nutrition Labels for Better Choices?* How to Select the Right Brands at Conventions?* How to Identify Niche Emerging Categories?* How to Invest in Consumer Brands and Tech?* What Is the Approach to Building a Company Brick by Brick? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theconsumervc.com/subscribe