Investor Spotlight: Ben Zises, SuperAngel.Fund

The Startup CPG Podcast · 18 Oct 2025 · 54m · Episode 208

What this episode covers

Ben Zises, Founder and General Partner at SuperAngel.Fund, discusses his transition from a prop-tech founder to an early-stage consumer investor. He outlines his 'help-first' investment philosophy, his strategy of starting with small checks to build positions over time, and the critical importance of proprietary IP and unique distribution for new CPG brands. Zises provides specific advice on crafting concise pitch decks, maintaining consistent investor updates, and the diligence criteria he uses to evaluate founders, highlighting trends in the health and wellness supplement sector.

Mentioned

Companies
SuperAngel.Fund, Sequoia, Carta, Angelist
Products
Quip, Caraway, Create, Man Cereal, Feel Goods, Dollar Shave Club, retailmls.com

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • How I Built This · 40m

    Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method returns

    Eric Ryan, co-founder of Method and now a venture investor at Graycroft, joins Guy Raz to advise early-stage founders on branding, product differentiation, and fundraising. He discusses his new $15 million consumer fund and the current challenges of investing in CPG, noting that while starting is easier, scaling to $100M+ is harder. Ryan advises callers on building trust for an allergen-free fragrance brand, creating experiential marketing for customizable kids' flip-flops, and determining when to raise capital for a light-up jewelry startup.

  • How I Built This · 51m

    Advice Line with Andrew Abraham of Orgain

    Orgain founder and CEO Andrew Abraham joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders on product positioning and growth. Bryn Snyder of Slate Electric Flosser discusses her $79.99 electric flosser and strategies for simplifying complex oral health benefits for consumers. Turner Lewis of 4 Craft Cocktails, a radiologist launching golf-inspired canned cocktails, seeks advice on scaling distribution and finding value-add investors. Catherine Smart of Not Just Co, a pasta sauce brand in 240 Target stores, asks how to secure seed funding despite investor skepticism about her $1 million sales run rate.

  • How I Built This · 49m

    Advice Line with Angie & Dan Bastian of Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP

    Angie and Dan Bastian, co-founders of Angie's Boom Chickapop, join Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders. They counsel Michelle Pusiteri of Nana Joe's Granola on balancing mission-driven growth with outside investment, Gloria Kulb of Alida on overcoming stigma for her pelvic floor device Elatone, and Eric Poulain of Maple Rue on scaling their maple-based sports nutrition brand without compromising authenticity.

  • How I Built This · 50m

    Advice Line with John Zimmer of Lyft

    Lyft co-founder John Zimmer joins Guy Raz to discuss his recent departure from the company he built with Logan Green, his new venture Yes, and the mental health challenges of entrepreneurship. Zimmer provides advice to three early-stage founders: Alan Summerfield of ShowerSpaah on scaling a patented shower device to the US market; Terry Levy of RUKSTR on securing inventory financing for her weighted vests amidst tariff uncertainties; and Kobi of Slowcocoa on maintaining work-life balance and implementing employee ownership in his craft chocolate business.

  • How I Built This · 50m

    Advice Line with Ariel Kaye of Parachute Home

    Parachute Home founder Ariel Kaye joins Guy Raz to advise three founders: Dane Brown of King Brown Pomade on strategic investment for his men's grooming brand; Deanna Dandino of Mindset Tapestry on securing press for her children's emotional health tool without a marketing budget; and Megan Easterhouse of Palm Folly on navigating gender bias while raising capital for her hard seltzer brewery in a male-dominated industry.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Startup CPG Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.