Participated · Seed · Aug 2024

Aerflo develops a portable carbonation device powered by a zero-waste refill model that instantly transforms still water into sparkling. Co‑founded and co‑led by Buzz Wiggins and John Thorp, Aerflo raised $10M+ in venture capital. The rounds were led by Lerer Hippeau and Torch Capital, with participation from Closed Loop Ventures Group, Good Friends, SWAT Equity Partners, WISE Ventures, Bluestein Ventures, RiverPark Ventures, Palm Tree Crew and others. The company has used capital to build its refill infrastructure and commission custom automated processing equipment. Funds have also supported necessary regulatory approvals and R&D across its full portfolio and will continue to support Aerflo’s sustainable pipeline and supply chain.

Led · Seed · Apr 2021

Stix launched in 2019 as a D2C pregnancy-test maker and has expanded into ovulation tests, prenatal supplements, FDA-cleared UTI diagnostics, pain relief products and preventative supplements. The company sells many products via subscription and lets customers choose delivery frequency. Stix aims to build a full suite of products alongside educational resources and content to guide women through common reproductive and urinary health experiences. The startup emphasizes discrete, easy-to-use diagnostics and has positioned UTI testing as an over-the-counter option to reduce the need for doctor visits. Stix has eight employees, all women, three of whom are people of color, and was co-founded by Cynthia Plotch and Jamie Norwood. Competition includes companies like Modern Fertility, which sells similar reproductive tests and has big-box distribution. Stix sells competitively priced, FDA-cleared pregnancy and ovulation diagnostic tests directly to consumers, with both tests reported as more than 99% accurate. The company emphasizes discretion in delivery (using PayPal billing and a non‑Branded return address) and includes instructional materials with shipments. Stix offers a Stix Library online with educational content on pregnancy, ovulation, birth control and related health topics. Pregnancy tests are sold at $13 for a two-test pack with free shipping; ovulation tests are $17 for a seven-test pack. Co-founder and CEO Cynthia Plotch says the product and experience are focused on learning and education rather than outcomes. The company is a team of three women and plans to use new funding to grow the team and improve diversity.

Participated · Seed · May 2018

PetPlate produces human-grade, fresh-cooked dog meals formulated with the help of veterinary nutritionists and delivers personalized meal plans based on breed, allergies, activity level and body condition. Customers provide data and an algorithm recommends specific meals and portioning; meals are produced at a food kitchen in Dallas and shipped to customers or retail partners. The business is subscription-first, with nearly 95% of revenue coming from subscriptions while the company is beginning to build a brick-and-mortar presence. Average customer spend is about $100 per month; since launching in 2017 PetPlate has delivered 15 million meals and reports roughly 100% year-over-year growth. The NYC-based company employs about 25 people; Renaldo Webb serves as CPO and Gertrude Allen is CEO and was an early investor. Pet Plate is a NYC-based subscription service offering personalized, fresh-cooked meals formulated by veterinary nutritionist Dr. Renee Streeter, DVM, DACVN. Meals are prepared in a USDA facility and contain no rendered meats, by-products, artificial preservatives, or additives. The service is personalized for pets at all stages of life and has delivered more than 9.2 million meals to over 300 breeds across 48 states and Washington, D.C. Pet Plate plans to expand its product offering with new recipes, organic treats, and nutritional supplements to provide a more holistic solution for online shoppers. The company will also expand its team and corporate infrastructure to scale the business and grow its customer base. In February 2020 Pet Plate raised $9M in a Series A to fund these initiatives. PetPlate is a NYC-based direct-to-consumer subscription service that delivers fresh-cooked, human-grade meals for dogs. Founded by Renaldo Webb in 2016, the company sells pre-portioned meals that can be served from the fridge or warmed in a microwave. Its meals are kettle-cooked in a USDA facility using fresh meat, produce, and a proprietary blend of vitamins and minerals. Recipes are formulated for a dog’s diet by the company’s veterinary clinical nutritionist, Dr. Renee Streeter. PetPlate closed a $4M seed funding round and will use the funds to scale operations to meet demand.