Consumer Startups

ZENERGY makes caffeinated functional products, including chewing gum and strips, designed to give consumers a convenient energy boost during daily activities such as driving, working, and travel. It is a direct-to-consumer wellness brand in the functional consumer goods category.

1 investor

Chez Jolie is a French-inspired restaurant serving rustic and bistro-style cuisine, a wine list focused on high-quality French wines, and a cocktail bar built around French drinking culture. It operates alongside its sister restaurant Bâtard and offers a private dining room (chambre séparée) by request.

1 investor

A direct-to-consumer food company that makes toaster pastries with whole food ingredients, marketed as a healthier alternative to conventional versions.

1 investor

Chica~Chida is a peanut butter and agave fusion beverage crafted in Jalisco, Mexico, sold directly to consumers in bottled multi-packs. The product is marketed as an allergen-free (peanut-free) flavored drink.

1 investor

The Chicago Athletic Association is a historic hotel and cultural venue offering dining, event, and meeting spaces, having transformed from a members-only club into a public landmark. It houses several restaurants and bars including Cindy's rooftop, The Ives, Midōsuji, Game Room, and the Drawing Room, serving both local residents and travelers in Chicago.

1 investor

Chicco di Caffè operates its own coffee roastery selling specialty coffee through an online shop, and runs the chicco akademie offering on-site training and courses for baristas and other professionals. It serves the food and beverage service industry in Germany.

1 investor

ChiChi Foods produces instant protein hot cereal in single-serve cups made with chickpeas, whole grains, and simple ingredients for on-the-go breakfast consumers.

1 investor

Chicken Plus is a Korean-style fried chicken restaurant brand operating in Vietnam, using fresh chicken with proprietary batter and seasoning recipes adapted to Vietnamese tastes. It serves fried chicken alongside up to 15 Korean banchan side dishes at its dine-in locations.

1 investor

Chicken Shop is a fried chicken brand that sells double-coated, seasoned and sauced fried chicken, available for delivery via Just Eat including business orders.

1 investor

Chicken Soup for the Soul publishes inspirational and self-help books organized by themes such as faith, family, relationships, wellness, and personal growth for general consumer audiences. The company also offers educational programs, podcasts, and licensed products.

1 investor

Child Development Schools operates early childhood education and child care centers under three brands (Childcare Network, Sunrise Preschools, and My Small Wonders), serving children aged six weeks to 12 years with full-time, before-school, and after-school programs. Founded in 1988, it runs more than 260 centers across 11 U.S. states and also acquires independently owned schools.

1 investor

Child Nation is a digital platform of interactive, artist-created adventures for children aged 7 to 11, accessed via internet-enabled devices through QR codes on signage in parks and libraries or via school collections. It guides kids through personalised, imaginative activities that prompt physical exploration and creative engagement with real-world spaces.

1 investor

Childy is an online select shop offering kids' fashion brands and curated apparel items for children, marketed toward mothers. It operates as an e-commerce store featuring MD-recommended products, discounts, and a fashion magazine.

1 investor

Chill.com publishes wellness content focused on stress, recovery, sleep, and gut health, with references to supplements for supporting the body under sustained stress. The site addresses consumers seeking to manage burnout and recover from chronic stress.

1 investor

Chillhouse is a beauty brand that produces press-on nail products and accessories. Tips Off is a nourishing nail remover designed to safely remove press-on nails without damage.

1 investor

Chilly Willy is a dessert brand selling frozen treats, described as a dessert within another dessert, available in retail stores.

1 investor

Chilon Industries develops hair care tools designed for textured and curly hair, specifically marketed toward Black women. The company is creating innovative grooming products to address gaps in hair care for natural hair.

1 investor

Chimani is a mobile app offering guides, trip planning, and offline maps for national parks, state parks, scenic drives, beaches, and other recreation areas. It provides personalized trip planning, check-in tracking, and an AI park assistant called Parkly for outdoor travelers.

1 investor

Chime offers fee-free consumer banking products—including basic banking, credit-building tools, and low-cost liquidity—built on a vertically integrated, cloud-native platform with in-house payments, ledger, and data capabilities, delivered through bank partnerships and monetized via interchange fees. It also provides Chime Workplace, a no-cost enterprise offering that lets employers give employees early pay access, credit building, and savings tools, serving everyday consumers across all 50 U.S. states.

1 investor

Chipolo makes Bluetooth trackers that help users locate lost items through Apple Find My or Google Find Hub. The company produces hardware with recycled materials from its European headquarters.

1 investor

Chipotle operates a fast-casual restaurant chain serving Mexican-inspired food such as burrito bowls, and offers gift cards and menu items to consumers. It runs promotions and limited menu items like the Bardi Bowl and Chili Lime Chips.

1 investor

Chirp offers a family safety product through Chirp-enabled devices designed to help parents and guardians keep children healthy and safe online. It targets families managing their children's digital activity.

1 investor

A marketplace where artists submit designs that the community votes on, with winning designs produced as physical paper goods including greeting cards, notebooks, and wrapping paper.

1 investor

Chirps makes food products using crickets as a protein source, marketed as a sustainable, nutrient-rich alternative that provides protein, fiber, prebiotics, and amino acids. The company positions its cricket-based foods as an environmentally friendly consumer food option.

1 investor