The Consumer VC Roundup #65
The Consumer VC Roundup #65
Hey everyone,
I hope you had a great week. I had a great time in New York last week. The Whalies were awesome – so fun hanging with other folks in the ecommerce space. We also through a dinner with brands, investors and other service providers. Thanks also to Alison Cayne for having me at Haven’s Kitchen Aioli Launch Party! The sauces are delicious.
📍LA Happy Hour
In addition to The Consumer VC, I also host a podcast called re:COGs, which is about the inventory and supply chain side of building brands. We’re throwing our 1 year anniversary party in Los Angeles at Manufactured’s HQ.
📆 April 30th 🕔 5PM 😎 Vibe: Happy Hour Hang
If you’re in LA, we’d love to see you there. You can RSVP Here.
On to our consumer update but first a quick word from Propeller –
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💻Consumer Software💻
🚀 StrikeReady, the AI-pioneer advancing the way modern security teams operate, announced $12 million in Series A funding round led by 33N Ventures, with participation from Hitachi Ventures, Monta Vista Capital and industry luminaries Brian NeSmith, and Rod Beckstrom. The AI security operations platform makes SOC teams more efficient and effective by uniting, centralizing and operationalizing security, fostering smarter, faster decision-making and proactive security defense. PR Newswire
🎓 PETE, the Orlando-based AI EdTech startup, has successfully raised $2 million in Seed Funding round led by Cofounders Capital. The round also included capital from angel investors in the Orlando area. PR Newswire
🥗 Saveggy, the Swedish foodtech company that creates edible protection which keeps fruits & veggies fresh longer, announced it raised a €1.76 million round from impact investor Unconventional Ventures, together with LRF Ventures, Almi Invest GreenTech and industry angels. EU Startups
🛍️Consumer Brands / Inventory-Based Businesses🛍️
🍫 Howard Schultz, former Starbucks CEO, has purchased a 2% stake in the slave-free chocolate maker Tony’s Chocolonely for an disclosed amount as it will benefit from the coffee chain executive’s “extensive experience” in building a global consumer brand and company. Food Dive
🛒eCommerce & Retail Tech🛒
💸 KIKI, the community commerce company launched in early 2023, is announcing its initial funding round investors, which includes a16z crypto and The Estée Lauder Companies' New Incubation Ventures (NIV), as it opens its platform to a variety of creators and brands. PR Newswire
🏛️ Bunq, The European digital bank announced a net profit of €53 million for 2023 in its annual report. The company also informed that it got a fresh capital injection of €29 million from its existing shareholders to grow in other markets, as well as to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements set by the Dutch Central Bank, according to Finovate. EU Startups
💸M&A💸
🌿 LI-COR Environmental, the global leader in greenhouse gas measurements, announced it has acquired Onset®, owner of the HOBO brand, a leader in large-scale, spatially-distributed environmental monitoring and water resource management. PR Newswire
🛒eBay acquired Goldin, the Collectors’ auction house platform, which a significant move that will greatly benefit collectors. The sale helps eBay expand the range of inventory for buyers as well as give Goldin sellers a wider audience. Tech Crunch
🍪 Hain Celestial, the organic and natural products manufacturer, sold its Thinsters cookie business to frozen Ice beverage owner J&J Snack Foods for an undisclosed price, allowing Hain to streamline its operations to focus on its most important brands and core areas of its business as the money will be used to pay down debt. Food Dive
🥹Debuts🥹
🚀 The DFINITY Foundation, a Swiss not-for-profit research and development organization and major contributor to the Internet Computer Blockchain (ICP), announced the launch of the Olympus Acceleration Platform, web3's first decentralized, on-chain global acceleration platform. The acceleration platform is a first of its kind platform and will be used by teams around the world to organize and launch their own accelerator programs. PR Newswire
💰Funds Raising Funds💰
💸 Nico Rosberg, the former Formula 1 World Champion, Sustainability entrepreneur, and Angel Investor, through his investment firm Rosberg Ventures, has announced the creation of a new over €70 million Fund of Funds aimed at increasing German and European participation in leading global venture capital (VC) efforts. This strategic move seeks to bridge the investment gap between Europe and the United States in the venture capital domain. EU Startups
🏪Distribution Expansion🏪
🍷 Sèchey, the nonalcoholic brand and online marketplace, has expanded its concept nationally into nearly 700 Target stores. Target said it will permanently dedicate space to alcohol-free products in its adult beverage aisle. Food Dive