The Consumer VC Roundup #95
The Latest News For the Emerging Consumer Ecosystem
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Hi friends,
If you also able to make it out to one of our coffees in NYC, LA, Nashville, Vancouver, SF, or Bozeman this past week – I hope you had a great time! For December we will be hosting three more to end the year in Cleveland, Washington D.C. and LA. Here’s the latest news in emerging consumer from the past week and I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
This Week In Consumer
💰Fundraises💰
Clean Skin Club, known for its single-use viscose fiber face towel alternatives, has raised $32 million in funding from Astō Consumer Partners and Amberstone, projecting $107 million in sales for 2024. BeautyIndependent
Shiseido has invested in wellness brand Apothékary, boosting its pre-series A funding round to $8 million through its venture capital arm. BeautyIndependent
Paris-based cultivated leather startup Faircraft has raised €15 million to scale operations and meet growing demand for sustainable materials. Founded in 2021, Faircraft uses cell biology and tissue engineering to create "real leather without the animal." Vegconomist
German snack brand KoRo raised €35 million in an oversubscribed Series C round led by Coefficient Capital, with support from existing investors. The funds will drive growth, expand its product range, and strengthen its presence in key European markets like France, Italy, and the Benelux region. Vegconomist
Crown Affair, a prestige hair care brand known for its focus on air-drying and natural styling, has raised $9 million in a Series B round led by True Beauty Ventures. The funds will support Crown Affair’s expansion into Sephora, marketing efforts, and new hires as the brand scales. BusinessOfFashion
💸M&A💸
New Belgium Brewing has agreed to sell Upper Hand Brewery and its tap room to Seven Beverages, with brewery operations continuing until early 2025, when the transition is expected to finalize. JustDrinks
Foria, the health and sexual wellness company that focuses on creating products rooted in plant-based ingredients, has acquired sleep supplement brand Ned, expanding its product portfolio into the sleep category. BeautyIndependent
New Zealand oat milk brands Otis and All Good have merged to form Good & Humble, a new entity focused on scaling innovation, supporting local oat growers, and expanding globally, particularly in Southeast Asia. The merger combines Otis's expertise in ingredient traceability and enzyme technology with All Good's strengths in export sales and distribution. Vegconomist
Helen of Troy has acquired nail care brand Olive & June for $240 million, including a $15 million earnout. This acquisition expands Helen of Troy's portfolio beyond hair care and taps into the growing demand for at-home nail care, with the deal expected to close by the end of 2024, pending regulatory approvals. GCIMagazine
Danone has raised its offer to acquire the remaining shares of kefir maker Lifeway Foods to $307 million, or $27 per share, up from an initial offer of $283 million. The dairy giant, which already owns 23.3% of Lifeway, expressed that the increased offer reflects the company's potential. FoodDive
MY Imports has acquired the sunscreen brand Bain de Soleil, and the products are set to relaunch in 2025, available in stores and online. BeautyPackaging
🚀Debuts, Distribution & Expansion🚀
Bel UK has launched an improved plant-based version of its Boursin cheese in Garlic & Herbs flavor, replicating the taste and texture of the original. The dairy-free alternative is versatile for spreading or cooking. Vegconomist
Bogg, known for its brightly colored, perforated tote bags made from the same plastic material as Crocs, is expanding its presence by bringing its products to 1,900 Target stores nationwide starting in December. ModernRetail
Jennifer Aniston's brand LolaVie has launched Puppy Love Dog Shampoo, inspired by her rescue dogs Clyde and Lord Chesterfield. The 96% naturally derived, vegan, and cruelty-free shampoo is safe for all dogs, featuring a pH-balanced formula with a coconut-derived conditioning blend for a gentle, effective cleanse. All profits from the product will go to Aniston's "The Clydeo Fund" to support pet rescue and shelter efforts. BeautyPackaging
Mary Kay has introduced the Clinical Solutions Dynamic Wrinkle Limiter to its dermocosmetic skincare line. The product features the brand's patent-pending Botanical Wrinkle-Limiting Technology, designed to reduce the impact of facial expressions that cause dynamic wrinkles. BeautyPackaging
Rohrer Corporation has launched its EcoVolve product line, focusing on sustainable packaging innovation. The first series, EcoVolve-30, features a blend of virgin and 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) fiber, supporting the company’s commitment to reducing waste and resource consumption. BeautyPackaging
🪇Collabs🪇
Lygos, Inc. has partnered with Acme-Hardesty to distribute its Soltellus biodegradable polymers for personal and home care. These sustainable, water-soluble polymers enhance hair care, cleansing, and emulsions by improving softness, lather, and hydration while supporting eco-friendly formulations. GCIMagazine
Paris Hilton’s 11:11 Media has partnered with Guthy-Renker to launch 11:11 Beauty in Spring 2025. The new company will feature beauty and wellness products inspired by Hilton and creatively directed by her. BeautyPackaging
IBG (Innovative Beauty Group) has partnered with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to create a new amenity kit for World Business Class passengers on intercontinental flights. The kit includes eco-friendly personal care products and travel essentials, emphasizing sustainable and reusable solutions. BeautyPackaging
Travertine Spa Atelier is partnering with Osmo to develop a luxury perfume using artificial intelligence. Osmo's advanced AI technologies streamline the development process, reducing the time from concept to final product to just a few weeks. BeautyPackaging
💰Funds Raising Funds💰
Electrolit is investing $400 million in its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Waco, Texas, set to open in early 2026. The 600,000-square-foot facility will support the brand's growth in the U.S., which has seen strong sales, and will feature automation and eco-friendly practices, including the use of recycled plastic packaging. FoodDive
Nestlé is investing $150 million to expand its Gaffney, South Carolina plant, adding a new production line for single-serve frozen meals and upgrading automation and digital technology. FoodDive
💻Consumer Software💻
💰Fundraises💰
Amazon is investing an additional $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic, increasing its stake in one of OpenAI's main competitors. This follows an earlier $4 billion investment, which included provisions for Anthropic to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers and AI chips, while maintaining close ties with Google. FashionNetwork
Flywheel Dynamix, the first buyer-centric cloud marketplace designed to simplify software acquisition for buyers and help sellers grow revenue faster, announced its successful raise of $7M in seed funding. Storm Ventures, Foster Ventures, BeeNex, FeBe, and Teknos Ventures led the round. After operating in stealth mode since August, Flywl is officially launching the first buyer module for its marketplace platform in the first week of December. BusinessWire
CellPoint Digital, the leading provider of payment solutions to the airline and travel industries and a global pioneer of Payment Orchestration, has secured $30 million in funding from Toscafund and Penta Capital. This latest investment will accelerate the launch of CellPoint Digital's revolutionary Offer Order Service Delivery (OOSD) payment orchestration platform, purpose-built to power the Travel industry's transformation toward modern airline retailing. PRNewswire
Cardo AI, a next generation asset-based finance and private credit technology platform, has completed its $15mn Series A round. The investment was co-led by Blackstone Innovations Investments, Blackstone's early-stage strategic investment arm, FINTOP Capital and JAM FINTOP. Andy Horwitz and Kevin MacDonald, co-founders of Black Mountain Systems, also participated in the round. PRNewswire