• NatureBox

  Participated · Series C · May 2015

  NatureBox operates a subscription service that delivers nutritionist-approved snacks to members for $19.95 per month; members can customize orders from more than 100 NatureBox-branded snacks using ingredient, flavor, and dietary filters. The company emphasizes quality ingredients and products free of high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners. Launched in 2012 by Gautam Gupta and Ken Chen and based in San Carlos, CA, the team also includes CMO Ray Elias and CFO Carrie Kalinowski. NatureBox intends to use new funding to expand its direct-to-consumer model into new categories, channels, and markets. The business has raised nearly $60M in total to date. NatureBox is a direct-to-consumer snack company that sells nutritionist-approved snacks and subscription boxes delivered straight to customers' doors. Launched in January 2012 and based in San Carlos, Calif., the company offers more than 100 snack options and emphasizes wholesome ingredients with no high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, trans-fats, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. NatureBox reported rapid customer growth—50,000 orders in its first year and 1 million orders in 2013—and the website receives over 1 million monthly visitors while the company has 850,000 Facebook fans. Management said the company was on track to ship 3 million boxes in the current year and called itself one of America’s fastest-growing snack brands. Leadership plans to continue expanding operations and enhancing its exclusive product line to meet strong consumer demand. The business model focuses on online sales and direct delivery rather than traditional retail shelf placement. NatureBox operates a $20/month subscription service that delivers nutritionist-approved snacks free of high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, and artificial additives. The company sources goods from local growers and independent suppliers and offers curated boxes matched to customers and dietary restrictions. It currently offers about 80 snack options, adds 5–10 new products per month, and expects more than 100 options by year-end. NatureBox shipped 50,000 boxes in 2012 and expects to increase to more than one million annual shipments this year. The startup has roughly 35 employees and is targeting 45 by year-end. With new funding it plans to expand its engineering team, improve data analytics and its product-matching algorithm, and invest in product and marketing. NatureBox sells a subscription service that curates and ships private-label, nutritionist-approved healthy snacks in a recyclable box. Each monthly box includes 15–20 servings of four to six items curated by a nutritionist around seasonal health themes and sourced from local growers and indie food suppliers. All snacks are free from high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, trans fats and artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors. Founded in 2011 and launched in January 2012, the company grew its subscriber base 50–100% month-over-month and attracts over 250,000 visits per month to its website. The founders incubated NatureBox with personal funds and began generating significant revenue at the outset. With new funding, NatureBox plans to expand its customer base, beef up its website and staff, scale operations, and continue growing its healthy foods brand; it also donates a meal in the U.S. for every box delivered.

• Zest AI

  Participated · Series C · Jul 2013

  Founded in 2009, Zest AI develops machine-learning software that modernizes consumer lending for banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions. Its product suite spans automated underwriting, the Generative AI-driven LuLu lending intelligence platform, and Zest Protect for fraud detection. The company claims its 650 proprietary credit models allow lenders to increase approvals by roughly 25 % with no additional risk or reduce defaults by 20 % while keeping approval volume steady. More than 50 issued and pending patents support these capabilities, and nearly 300 lenders now use Zest AI’s technology. Demand is rising as institutions seek to replace legacy scoring systems with AI-native tools that expand access to credit and streamline operations. The newly raised capital will fund deeper automation across the borrower journey and broader deployment of LuLu. Zest AI’s market momentum has earned it spots on the Forbes 2024 Fintech 50 and CNBC’s 2025 World’s Top FinTech Companies lists.

No current team members are available.