Stage 1 Fund

Stage 1 Fund is a venture capital investment firm established in 2018 and based in Anaheim, California. The firm focuses on investing in sectors such as food and beverage, beauty and wellness, apparel, and retail services. With a strong emphasis on generating validated deal flow, Stage 1 Fund seeks to actively participate in the investment process, partnering with successful investment entities to support and grow promising brands. The firm aims to leverage its established platform to identify and invest in innovative consumer non-durable goods, retail, and accessory markets.

David Bartholomew

Founder, Partner and Fund Manager

Lila Sharifian

Operating Partner

Katy Triefenbach

Managing Partner

16 past transactions

Ellis Brooklyn

Series A in 2023
Ellis Brooklyn is an online beauty brand that specializes in creating sophisticated, multilayered scents. The company is committed to sustainability, offering innovative, luxurious fragrances that are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from phthalates and parabens. Customers can purchase customized perfumes and moisturizers directly from the company's online store, ensuring a personalized shopping experience. Ellis Brooklyn emphasizes eco-friendly practices in its product development, appealing to consumers who prioritize ethical and environmentally conscious beauty options.

G.O.A.T. Fuel

Seed Round in 2023
G.O.A.T. Fuel is a Texas-based company that specializes in developing health-oriented energy drinks designed to enhance physical and mental performance. The company offers a range of energy drinks in various flavors, formulated to provide an energy boost while combating fatigue. Each beverage contains a blend of caffeine, green tea, ginger, amino acids, and powdered cordyceps mushrooms, promoting improved immunity and oxygen utilization. G.O.A.T. Fuel aims to provide consumers with a healthier alternative to traditional energy drinks.

Bond Pet Foods

Venture Round in 2022
Bond Pet Foods, established in 2015 and based in Boulder, Colorado, specializes in manufacturing pet food products using real animal protein produced through fermentation. The company cultivates animal proteins in a lab setting using biotechnology, eliminating the need for animal slaughter. These proteins are then harvested and formulated into pet nutrition and food products, meeting the specific dietary requirements of companion animals. Bond Pet Foods aims to provide sustainable, all-natural, and animal-free alternatives for pet owners seeking eco-friendly options.

Crown Affair

Series A in 2022
Crown Affair, Inc. is a New York-based company founded in 2019 that specializes in the online retail of luxury haircare products. The brand offers a diverse range of items, including shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, treatment masks, brushes, towels, scrunchies, and renewal masks. Crown Affair prioritizes the use of natural ingredients, ensuring that its products are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from harmful chemicals such as sulfates, parabens, and silicones. The company aims to promote mindful haircare practices and self-care rituals, encouraging consumers to redefine their relationship with their hair. Additionally, Crown Affair is committed to sustainability, utilizing recyclable, reusable, and compostable packaging for its products, which are conveniently delivered to customers' homes.

Spudsy

Series A in 2021
Spudsy, Inc. is a Costa Mesa, California-based company founded in December 2017 that specializes in the production and distribution of sweet potato puffs. These snacks are designed to be a guilt-free, crunchy option that is both tasty and nutritious. Spudsy utilizes upcycled sweet potatoes to help reduce food waste, and its products are gluten-free, plant-based, and non-GMO. Available in flavors such as cheese, barbecue, and cinnamon, Spudsy aims to provide consumers with healthful snacking alternatives that do not compromise on taste or sustainability. The company's offerings are accessible through both online and offline retail channels.

ScotchPorter

Convertible Note in 2021
ScotchPorters is an e-commerce company that provides men's grooming products for their beard, skin, and hair care. When Calvin Quallis left the comfort of his cushy desk job this year Jerry Maguire-style to pursue his dream of creating the ultimate beard-grooming line, he did so with the intent of making the most stylishly accessible products in the game.

Freck Beauty

Seed Round in 2020
Freck Beauty is a beauty care company that specializes in clean and innovative skincare and cosmetic products. The brand offers a diverse range of items, including freckle pens, cactus-based cleansing gels, makeup palettes, eyeliners, and semi-permanent freckle cosmetics. Freck Beauty focuses on providing natural beauty solutions aimed at enhancing the natural features of its customers. Products are available for purchase online, and the company also provides an inquiry form on its website for customer engagement.

Spudsy

Series A in 2020
Spudsy, Inc. is a Costa Mesa, California-based company founded in December 2017 that specializes in the production and distribution of sweet potato puffs. These snacks are designed to be a guilt-free, crunchy option that is both tasty and nutritious. Spudsy utilizes upcycled sweet potatoes to help reduce food waste, and its products are gluten-free, plant-based, and non-GMO. Available in flavors such as cheese, barbecue, and cinnamon, Spudsy aims to provide consumers with healthful snacking alternatives that do not compromise on taste or sustainability. The company's offerings are accessible through both online and offline retail channels.

Bond Pet Foods

Convertible Note in 2020
Bond Pet Foods, established in 2015 and based in Boulder, Colorado, specializes in manufacturing pet food products using real animal protein produced through fermentation. The company cultivates animal proteins in a lab setting using biotechnology, eliminating the need for animal slaughter. These proteins are then harvested and formulated into pet nutrition and food products, meeting the specific dietary requirements of companion animals. Bond Pet Foods aims to provide sustainable, all-natural, and animal-free alternatives for pet owners seeking eco-friendly options.

Lemon Perfect

Seed Round in 2020
Lemon Perfect is a Georgia-based manufacturer specializing in premium beverage products. Their flagship offering is Lemon Perfect, a refreshing, zero-sugar cold-pressed lemon water made from organic lemons. It contains natural electrolytes from potassium and vitamin C, providing a healthier hydration option without artificial flavors or sweeteners. The company aims to promote healthy hydration habits by delivering great-tasting, convenient alternatives for consumers seeking better-for-you beverages.

Ellis Brooklyn

Seed Round in 2020
Ellis Brooklyn is an online beauty brand that specializes in creating sophisticated, multilayered scents. The company is committed to sustainability, offering innovative, luxurious fragrances that are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from phthalates and parabens. Customers can purchase customized perfumes and moisturizers directly from the company's online store, ensuring a personalized shopping experience. Ellis Brooklyn emphasizes eco-friendly practices in its product development, appealing to consumers who prioritize ethical and environmentally conscious beauty options.

Herbivore Botanicals

Series A in 2019
Herbivore Botanicals, LLC is a Seattle-based company that specializes in the manufacture of organic skincare products. Founded in 2011, the brand focuses on clean beauty, offering a range of items including face creams, facial oils, face masks, body oils, and bath products. Herbivore Botanicals emphasizes the use of high-quality, food-grade ingredients in its formulations, which are designed to be safe, non-toxic, and effective. The company prides itself on creating products without fillers, ensuring that nearly every ingredient serves a functional purpose. Their formulations are developed and tested on real people, never on animals, reflecting a commitment to ethical practices. Herbivore Botanicals distributes its products through local retailers and its online platform, catering to consumers seeking effective skincare solutions rooted in natural ingredients.

Spudsy

Seed Round in 2019
Spudsy, Inc. is a Costa Mesa, California-based company founded in December 2017 that specializes in the production and distribution of sweet potato puffs. These snacks are designed to be a guilt-free, crunchy option that is both tasty and nutritious. Spudsy utilizes upcycled sweet potatoes to help reduce food waste, and its products are gluten-free, plant-based, and non-GMO. Available in flavors such as cheese, barbecue, and cinnamon, Spudsy aims to provide consumers with healthful snacking alternatives that do not compromise on taste or sustainability. The company's offerings are accessible through both online and offline retail channels.

Hatch Collection

Series A in 2019
Hatch Collection LLC is a New York-based company that specializes in manufacturing and marketing maternity wear. Founded in 2011, the company offers a diverse range of products, including tops, dresses, bottoms, jumpsuits, knitwear, denim, activewear, outerwear, intimate and sleepwear, and swimwear. In addition to clothing, Hatch Collection provides a selection of beauty products designed for expectant mothers, such as belly masks, belly oils, nipple and lip creams, hair oils, leg and foot relief sprays, and ginger anti-nausea remedies. The brand focuses on creating chic, timeless, and comfortable wardrobe essentials that cater to women before, during, and after pregnancy, ensuring they look and feel beautiful throughout all stages of life.

Lemon Perfect

Seed Round in 2019
Lemon Perfect is a Georgia-based manufacturer specializing in premium beverage products. Their flagship offering is Lemon Perfect, a refreshing, zero-sugar cold-pressed lemon water made from organic lemons. It contains natural electrolytes from potassium and vitamin C, providing a healthier hydration option without artificial flavors or sweeteners. The company aims to promote healthy hydration habits by delivering great-tasting, convenient alternatives for consumers seeking better-for-you beverages.
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