# #208 - Fundraising Reflections with David Fudge (Aplós) and Amanda Amos (Collaborative Fund)

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-08-05
- Length: 1h 10m
- Episode: 178
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-05-208-fundraising-reflections-with-david-fudge-aplos-and-amanda-amos-collaborative
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a1ddfdb7

## Summary

David Fudge, Co-Founder and CEO of Aplós, and Amanda Amos, Investor at Collaborative Fund, discuss the nuances of early-stage fundraising in the CPG sector. Fudge details his journey from angel investors to a $5.5 million Series A, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building, realistic market sizing, and understanding legal structures like SAFE notes. Amos provides an investor's perspective on evaluating founders, the mechanics of venture capital funds, and the critical alignment of incentives and vision between founders and capital partners.

## Outline

1. Introduction: David Fudge (Aplós) and Amanda Amos (Collaborative Fund)
2. Aplós Product Vision and Market Opportunity
3. Investor Types and Fund Dynamics
4. Pitch Deck Essentials and Team Evaluation
5. Fundraising Journey and Legal Structures (SAFE vs. Priced)
6. Common Founder Mistakes and Relationship Building

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Aplós (product)
- Collaborative Fund (company)
- Olipop (product)
- Sweet Green (company)
- The Farmer's Dog (company)
- Bonobos (company)
- Diageo (company)
- LVMH (company)
- Y Combinator (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method returns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-04-23-advice-line-with-eric-ryan-of-method-returns) (How I Built This)
- [Founder vs. Investor with Liz Zalman and Jerry Neumann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-11-22-founder-vs-investor-with-liz-zalman-and-jerry-neumann) (Oxide and Friends)
- [178: Venture Capital Funding for Hardware Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-06-01-178-venture-capital-funding-for-hardware-startups) (Product Startup)
- [Advice Line with Andrew Abraham of Orgain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-05-16-advice-line-with-andrew-abraham-of-orgain) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Ariel Kaye of Parachute Home](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-29-advice-line-with-ariel-kaye-of-parachute-home) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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