# #173 -  The Food Investors: Capital for Emerging CPGs

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2024-12-10
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 101
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-12-10-173-the-food-investors-capital-for-emerging-cpgs
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/c72e23ee

## Summary

Host Daniel Scharff moderates a panel of CPG investors Greer Tessler (Simple Food Ventures), Daniel Faierman (Habitat Partners), Carolyn Simmons (Melitas Ventures), and Andrew Reynolds (RCV Frontline) to discuss the current fundraising landscape for early-stage food brands. The investors detail realistic valuation ranges for pre-seed and seed rounds, emphasizing that gross margins must exceed 35% to justify investment in the current climate. They highlight key trends such as protein enrichment, clean-label baby foods, and sugar reduction, while advising founders to bootstrap as long as possible and leverage founder networks for introductions rather than cold outreach.

## Outline

1. Introduction and Panelist Backgrounds
2. Current Fundraising Environment and Valuations
3. Margin Expectations and Financial Metrics
4. Investment Trends: Protein, Baby Food, and Clean Label
5. Fundraising Strategy: Bootstrapping and Timing
6. Pitching Tips and Getting Investor Attention
7. Brand Pitches and Investor Feedback

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Simple Food Ventures (company)
- Habitat Partners (company)
- Melitas Ventures (company)
- RCV Frontline (company)
- Red Antler (company)
- Olipop (product)
- Magic Spoon (product)
- MezClub (product)
- Happy Love Snacks (product)
- Erewhon (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Kroger (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Albertsons (company)
- Nikigo (product)
- Recoup Beverage (product)
- Huxley (product)
- Lexington Bakes (product)
- Happy Candy (product)
- Payoa (product)

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## Citing this page

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