NEW YORK, NY -- Simple Food Ventures today announced its first close of $6 million for its $15 million fundraise. Fundraising efforts for the remaining $9 million will continue through year end. The early-stage consumer fund invests in seed to series B CPG companies with a natural and organic ethos and a mass market appeal. More specifically, the fund will focus on natural and organic products that disrupt the stale assumptions around food and nutrition, making healthier food options more accessible and affordable to a broader demographic. The firm leverages a strong grocery network to grow its portfolio companies' retail distribution footprint in exchange for additional, performance-based equity, which produces enhanced fund returns for Limited Partners.

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SFV finds, funds and champions early-stage companies with passionate founders creating minimally processed, nutrient-dense, and nourishing products that are better for the body and environment. SFV’s leadership team, Greer Tessler, Cara Kaufman, and Luke Goldstein, leverage their extensive experience and network in the grocery industry to bolster the success of their portfolio companies, helping them scale distribution at an accelerated pace through strategic retail relationships and advisory services. The firm leverages 11 years of experience working with conventional grocery stores and strong relationships at mass and big box retailers to identify white space on shelves for new healthier food options.  

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With backgrounds in partnerships, grocery, sales, finance and consumer operations, the management team is uniquely equipped to take advantage of strategic opportunities in the grocery arena. Their successful investments to date include Aura Bora, craft sparkling water; Simulate, Instagram-famous plant-based staples; Cure Hydration, clean hydration powder; Belliwelli, the first Low FodMap Dessert bar; Rae Wellness, a female-centered supplement brand; and Bored Cow, a first of its kind line of lab-grown, animal-free dairy milk.

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All investors are private, made up of family offices and high net worth individuals.

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About Simple Food Ventures

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Founded in 2020, Simple Food Ventures Fund I is an early stage, mission-driven venture capital fund investing in the future of healthy foods and products by targeting the next generation of food, beverages and CPG companies. The Fund was founded to bring better-for-you food and beverage products to middle income markets within mass grocery stores. Brands include Aura Bora, Bears Fruit, Belliwelli, Cure Hydration, Faves, Lupii, Miracle Seltzer, Rae Wellness, Simulate, Tomorrow Farms.

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For more information, please visit https://www.simplefoodvc.com/ or contact Greer@simplefoodventures.com