# Investor Spotlight: Josh Resnick, OpenSky Ventures

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-03-28
- Length: 39m
- Episode: 281
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-03-28-investor-spotlight-josh-resnick-opensky-ventures
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2a676842

## Summary

Josh Resnick, co-founder and General Partner at OpenSky Ventures, discusses his journey from founding Pandemic Studios and Sugarfina to investing in early-stage consumer brands. He outlines OpenSky's investment thesis, focusing on pre-seed and opportunistic Series A checks, and explains how their operator background helps them evaluate founders. Resnick emphasizes that storytelling, lean cost DNA, and 'must-have' product positioning are critical traits for success, warning founders against chasing high valuations that lead to down rounds.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Josh Resnick and OpenSky Ventures
2. Josh's Journey: Pandemic Studios, Sugarfina, and Angel Investing
3. OpenSky's Fund 1 Success and Fund 2 Strategy
4. Valuation Art vs. Science and the Risks of Down Rounds
5. Founder Traits: Storytelling, Lean DNA, and Must-Have Positioning
6. Case Study: Becca at Fishwife and Brand Authenticity
7. Investor Expectations and Questions Founders Should Ask
8. Funding Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A Defined
9. Advice for Aspiring Investors and Community Engagement

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- OpenSky Ventures (company)
- Sugarfina (product)
- Pandemic Studios (company)
- Electronic Arts (company)
- Activision (company)
- Fishwife (product)
- Liquid Death (product)
- Manscape (product)
- Star Wars Battlefront (product)
- Mercenaries (product)
- Wharton (other)
- Pure Imagination Brands (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advice Line with Scott Tannen of Boll & Branch and Jamie Siminoff of Ring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-12-11-advice-line-with-scott-tannen-of-boll-branch-and-jamie-siminoff-of-ring) (How I Built This)
- [Axel Bichara | How to Work with VCs to Build An Engineering Business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-03-31-axel-bichara-how-to-work-with-vcs-to-build-an-engineering-business) (Being an Engineer)
- [How I Built Resilience: Jennifer Neundorfer of January Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-10-03-how-i-built-resilience-jennifer-neundorfer-of-january-ventures) (How I Built This)
- [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)
- [Aviator Nation: Paige Mycoskie](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-01-01-aviator-nation-paige-mycoskie) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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