Led · Series C · Jul 2026

Epicutis offers clean, minimalist skincare formulations built around its "Skin Health" positioning and proprietary, patent-protected actives (including TSC, DSD and HYVIA®). The brand is positioned exclusively in the professional channel and is EWG Verified®, with distribution across medspas, dermatology practices and luxury spas. Epicutis has grown rapidly, reporting nearly a 100% compound annual growth rate over the past two years and more than 4,100 active professional accounts. The company traces its origins to over 20 years of bioscience research affiliated with Princeton University through Signum Biosciences. With the new growth investment from GroundForce Capital, Epicutis plans to scale brand awareness, advance its discovery pipeline, and continue expanding its professional-channel sales organization. The articles do not disclose revenue figures, founding year, or valuation.

Led · Series B · Jan 2024

The Coconut Collab manufactures coconut-based yoghurts, creams, custards, puddings and drinks and has developed a barista-style dairy-free drink called M!LK. Its products are made of over 95% coconut, contain no added water or heavy stabilisers, and are positioned as low‑sugar, creamy dairy-free alternatives. Founded in 2014 by James Averdieck after the sale of Gu Desserts, the business has grown into major UK retailers and expanded into Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. During 2023 the firm posted 15% and now has products available with all major retailers in the UK, and it counts customers including Virgin and Starbucks. The company plans to scale operations, accelerate growth and expand its product portfolio throughout 2024, with a primary focus on growing its market in the UK and Europe. The recent funding is intended to help the business reach more customers and bring the category more mainstream. The Collaborative (formerly The Coconut Collaborative) makes plant-based yogurt and desserts, emphasizing low sugar (about one-sixth of most competitors), taste and texture. The company is launching a line of gluten-free, non‑GMO desserts (vanilla rice pudding, double chocolate mousse, chocolate pudding) and expanding yogurt SKUs into 4.2oz, 7oz and 12.3oz multi-serve sizes with new packaging at select grocers and natural retailers. It is increasing digital distribution (Instacart, FreshDirect) and partnering with Amazon Fresh, while also raising inventory levels and shipments amid COVID-19 distribution pressures. Leadership changed with Meiky Tollman, former Sabra COO, named CEO; the company rebranded to The Collaborative following new investment. Management says proceeds will be deployed on a “deep and narrow” go-to-market strategy to drive category growth in plant-based yogurt and desserts. Tollman projected total revenue of $30 million in 2020 and $40 million in 2021.

Led · Series B · Mar 2022

Partake Brewing, founded in 2017 by Ted Fleming and based in Calgary, Alberta, brews non-alcoholic craft beers for consumers seeking lower-calorie options. Its portfolio includes PALE, IPA, BLONDE, RED, DARK (U.S.), STOUT (Canada), PEACH GOSE and seasonal editions, with cans ranging from 10–30 calories and using vegan, all-natural ingredients. The brand has received international recognition, including a Gold Medal at the World Beer Awards for Best Non-Alcoholic Beer. Partake plans to use new funding to expand U.S. and Canadian retail presence, broaden distribution across key channels, extend regional teams and leadership, and create limited-release products. The company works with Export Development Canada (EDC) to support scaling and international expansion. The article cites rapid consumer adoption since the brand’s 2017 debut and projects category growth (25% CAGR) to a $5B market by 2025.

Participated · Series C · Jan 2022

Flying Embers is a beverage brand known for hard kombuchas and botanical-spiked hard seltzers, launched in 2017. Its portfolio includes flavors such as watermelon basil, cucumber juniper, black cherry, and high-ABV hard kombuchas, plus recently introduced canned wine spritzers. The company emphasizes organic ingredients, low/no sugar formulations, probiotics and other functional additives aimed at health-conscious consumers. In 2021 it released 28 new product innovations and expanded into botanical and hops-spiked varieties to appeal to beer- and cocktail-inclined drinkers. Flying Embers plans to scale its brand and national footprint, investing in marketing to educate new consumers about the hard kombucha category. It will also dedicate funds to R&D and new product development while leveraging in-house brewing, microbiology and manufacturing capabilities.

Participated · Series C · Jan 2022

Liquid Death sells canned water with irreverent, alcohol‑inspired branding and packaging, positioning itself as a healthier alternative while borrowing marketing and shelf strategies from beer. The brand places product not only on grocery shelves but also at events, bars, restaurants and conferences to reach social occasions. Liquid Death has been framed by investors and industry observers as a potential disruptor to legacy beverage players like Coke and Pepsi. The company reported $263 million in sales in 2023 and has attracted significant venture capital despite the capital‑intensive nature of the beverage category. Investors have noted the brand’s cultural relevance and repeat‑purchase potential as reasons to back it. The company has raised more than $267 million in venture funding to date. Liquid Death is a direct-to-consumer beverage company that sells canned sparkling water. It positions itself as a premium, personality-driven brand with distinctive metal-inspired can design and marketing that courts a death-metal/frat bro cohort. The company is on track for $130 million in revenue in 2022, up from $45 million the prior year, per Bloomberg reporting cited in the article. TechCrunch notes a 12-pack of Liquid Death tallboys retails for about $16 on Amazon (over $1 per can), which the article suggests supports relatively strong gross margins. The company is expanding into new flavor verticals (the article cites a hypothetical “Berry It Alive” flavor) as part of its growth plans. The piece frames water as a very large TAM and presents the brand’s rapid top-line growth and premium pricing as justification for investor interest. Liquid Death sells canned mountain water sourced from the Alps and markets itself with a punk-metal, humorous brand voice. The company launched in 2018 and is based in Los Angeles. It is now carried in more than 29,000 U.S. locations, including Whole Foods, Target, Safeway and 7‑Eleven, and revenue reached nearly $45 million last year. Liquid Death is beginning to roll out flavored waters (Berry It Alive, Severed Lime and Mango Chainsaw) sweetened with agave, each with three grams of sugar and about 20 calories. The brand emphasizes aluminum cans as more recyclable than plastic and relies on organic, viral marketing stunts and celebrity tie‑ins, such as Tony Hawk. Distribution gains on Amazon—moving to wholesale terms—have boosted sales, and the company noted ACV penetration was approaching about 9% at the end of 2021. Liquid Death sells mountain water in recyclable aluminum cans and has built a viral, irreverent brand around the tagline “murder your thirst.” The company is four years old, based in Los Angeles, and now employs about 60 people. Its distribution footprint includes roughly 16,000 U.S. locations, from bars and tattoo parlors to Whole Foods, Walmart and 7‑Eleven, and the product is also available in Canada. Cessario says the business has seen strong growth in retail and online channels over the past year. The team is not pursuing international expansion immediately and is instead focused on the U.S. and Canada, while exploring limited‑release flavor ideas for later in the year. As a maturing startup, Liquid Death says it now has more access to favorable debt terms for working capital if needed. Liquid Death is a Santa Monica-based beverage startup selling mountain water sourced from the Austrian Alps in aluminum cans, offered as still and sparkling. The brand uses heavy-metal-inspired, irreverent marketing (including the slogan “murder your thirst”) and also sells branded merchandise such as T-shirts and hoodies. Products are sold direct-to-consumer and through retail channels, including Whole Foods and more than 1,000 7-Eleven stores in California. A 12-pack of tallboys is priced at $16 and a “Hydrate or Die” T-shirt at $26. The company was incubated with help from the LA startup studio Science and is led by founder Mike Cessario, a former West Coast agency executive. Financially, Liquid Death has now raised a little more than $34 million in total funding following its latest round.