# Investor Spotlight: Alex Malamatinas of Melitas Ventures

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-11-22
- Length: 32m
- Episode: 222
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-22-investor-spotlight-alex-malamatinas-of-melitas-ventures
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/53d37c19

## Summary

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.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Alex Malamatinas and Melitas Ventures
2. Investment Criteria: Stage, Revenue, and Themes
3. The Investor-Founder Partnership and Co-founder Dynamics
4. Due Diligence: Financials, Margins, and Cash Burn
5. Key Metrics: Growth, Velocity, and Margin Benchmarks
6. Lessons Learned: Financial Discipline and Focus
7. Emerging Categories: Hair Care, Fragrance, and Multicultural Food
8. Pitching Traction and Contact Information

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Melitas Ventures (company)
- Olipop (product)
- Magic Spoon (product)
- Burger King (company)
- Smirnoff (product)
- Diageo (company)
- Morgan Stanley (company)
- Soros Fund (company)
- Tiger Fund (company)
- Kind Snacks (product)
- Siete (product)

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## Citing this page

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