Hardware Podcasts

Investor Spotlight: Brian Folmer, FirstLook Ventures

The Startup CPG Podcast · 24 Jan 2026 · 37m · Episode 250

What this episode covers

Brian Folmer, founder of FirstLook Ventures, shares insights on fundraising for CPG brands, drawing from his background as a law school dropout, former corporate employee at Abercrombie & Fitch and Victoria's Secret, and investor at XRC Ventures. He emphasizes the importance of a compelling 'why now' thesis in pitch decks, realistic financial projections, and maintaining social capital in the VC ecosystem. Folmer also discusses the current market landscape, noting that consumer investing is currently more attractive than deep tech due to lower risk of rapid obsolescence, and advises founders to raise enough for 18 months of runway without over-raising.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
FirstLook Ventures, XRC Ventures, Abercrombie, Victoria's Secret
Products
FirstLook, Half Day Iced Tea
Also
Consumer BC, Mike Gallup

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