Barrel Ventures

Founded in 2019, Barrel Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm based in Evanston, Illinois. It invests in early-stage companies operating within the food sector across the Midwest.

Nate Cooper

Partner

Nathan Cooper

Founder and Partner

12 past transactions

Celleste Bio

Seed Round in 2024
Celleste Bio is a company that focuses on innovative cell culture techniques to produce high-quality cocoa ingredients. By utilizing naturally occurring cocoa cells, the company eliminates the need for traditional cocoa tree cultivation, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional cocoa production. This approach allows businesses to access environmentally friendly food ingredients without the challenges associated with growing cocoa trees. Celleste Bio's commitment to sustainability and quality positions it as a leader in providing high-value agro products while addressing the environmental impacts of conventional cocoa farming.

Helaina

Series B in 2024
Helaina is a biotechnology company dedicated to producing milk-equivalent baby formula designed as a breast milk alternative. By utilizing fermentation technology, Helaina creates bioactive proteins that replicate the functional proteins found in human breast milk, thereby offering a new category of functional food products. These products not only provide essential nutrients but also deliver immune benefits, positioning Helaina as a pioneer in the infant nutrition sector. The company's innovative approach aims to provide infants with nutritional options that closely resemble the composition and benefits of breast milk, addressing the needs of families seeking alternatives.

Great Wrap

Venture Round in 2024
Great Wrap produces compostable cling wrap derived from potato waste. Its stretch wrap material performs similarly to conventional plastic but decomposes in under six months, contributing organic matter to compost piles and leaving no microplastics behind.

Celleste Bio

Seed Round in 2022
Celleste Bio is a company that focuses on innovative cell culture techniques to produce high-quality cocoa ingredients. By utilizing naturally occurring cocoa cells, the company eliminates the need for traditional cocoa tree cultivation, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional cocoa production. This approach allows businesses to access environmentally friendly food ingredients without the challenges associated with growing cocoa trees. Celleste Bio's commitment to sustainability and quality positions it as a leader in providing high-value agro products while addressing the environmental impacts of conventional cocoa farming.

Partake Brewing

Series B in 2022
Founded in Calgary, Canada in 2017, Partake Brewing specializes in producing and selling non-alcoholic crafted beer. The company focuses on flavor, health, socializing, and inclusivity for consumers who choose not to drink alcohol.

Helaina

Series A in 2021
Helaina is a biotechnology company dedicated to producing milk-equivalent baby formula designed as a breast milk alternative. By utilizing fermentation technology, Helaina creates bioactive proteins that replicate the functional proteins found in human breast milk, thereby offering a new category of functional food products. These products not only provide essential nutrients but also deliver immune benefits, positioning Helaina as a pioneer in the infant nutrition sector. The company's innovative approach aims to provide infants with nutritional options that closely resemble the composition and benefits of breast milk, addressing the needs of families seeking alternatives.

ChannelApe

Series A in 2021
ChannelApe, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in supply chain and e-commerce management software. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Scranton, Pennsylvania, ChannelApe develops an enterprise fulfillment platform designed to automate back-end processes for direct-to-consumer brands. The software offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including third-party logistics reporting, data modeling, and distributed order management, along with integrations for major online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, and BigCommerce. By providing features like real-time inventory availability, label event tracking, and ship-from-store capabilities, ChannelApe enables businesses to streamline their operations, thereby saving time and resources, allowing them to concentrate on growth and customer engagement.

Gainful

Series A in 2021
Gainful is a personalized sports nutrition company that serves athletes with tailored nutrition products delivered via subscription, including a Hydration line of electrolyte drink mixes and protein bars and powder supplements that are plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free, and naturally flavored with organic ingredients to support athletic performance and recovery.

Kea

Series A in 2020
Founded in 2018, Kea specializes in automated ordering software for restaurants. Its flagship product, kea Voice, efficiently handles phone orders, enabling restaurants to focus on food preparation and customer service.

Partake Brewing

Series A in 2020
Founded in Calgary, Canada in 2017, Partake Brewing specializes in producing and selling non-alcoholic crafted beer. The company focuses on flavor, health, socializing, and inclusivity for consumers who choose not to drink alcohol.

Olipop

Series A in 2020
Olipop is a beverage brand that offers digestive health sparkling tonics made with fiber, prebiotics, and botanicals. The range includes flavors such as strawberry, vanilla, cinnamon, cola, and lemon, positioned as an alternative to traditional soda. The product line is designed to support microbiome balance, digestive function, and metabolic health, and is marketed as clinically backed and affordable. The brand is based in Oakland, California.

Olipop

Seed Round in 2019
Olipop is a beverage brand that offers digestive health sparkling tonics made with fiber, prebiotics, and botanicals. The range includes flavors such as strawberry, vanilla, cinnamon, cola, and lemon, positioned as an alternative to traditional soda. The product line is designed to support microbiome balance, digestive function, and metabolic health, and is marketed as clinically backed and affordable. The brand is based in Oakland, California.
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