Hardware Podcasts

Investor Spotlight: Alex Malamatinas of Melitas Ventures

The Startup CPG Podcast · 22 Nov 2025 · 32m · Episode 222

What this episode covers

Alex Malamatinas, founder and managing partner of Melitas Ventures, explains his firm's focus on seed and Series A investments in better-for-you CPG brands with $1-10M in revenue. He details the critical difference between gross margin and contribution margin, noting that understanding cash burn is essential for capital efficiency. Drawing on portfolio successes like Olipop and Magic Spoon, he highlights the importance of strong unit economics, sales velocity, and co-founder dynamics in securing funding. Malamatinas also identifies emerging categories such as hair care, fragrance, and multicultural food as key areas for future investment.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Melitas Ventures, Burger King, Diageo, Morgan Stanley, Soros Fund, Tiger Fund
Products
Olipop, Magic Spoon, Smirnoff, Kind Snacks, Siete

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