Fundraising FoxBarrel Ventures
Venture capitalActively deployingEvanston · Seed · 7 people tracked
Also known as BARREL VENTURES MANAGEMENT, LLC
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Investment thesis
Barrel Ventures is a seed-stage fund headquartered in the Midwest focused on the food ecosystem. It backs early-stage founders solving global food issues, creating new markets, and improving supply chains, drawing on the team's operating, scaling, and investing experience plus strategic relationships. The firm concentrates on four core areas: better-for-you and disruptive consumer brands across food, beverage, and wellness; food and ingredient technology developing functional ingredients and nutrients; supply chain and innovation spanning software, logistics, and material science for distribution and packaging; and vertical AI platforms automating workflows across CPG and food enterprises.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 29, 2026.
Team · 7 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 33 of 39 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×14FoodTech ×13Consumer ×12SaaS ×12Direct to Consumer ×9E-commerce ×6Enterprise Software ×6AgTech ×5
HQs:United States×23Canada×1Israel×1India×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 26 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×132 founders×83 founders×44+ founders×1
Where their founders studiedfrom 32 founders with education data
Georgetown ×2Harvard University ×2Stanford University ×2Stanford University Graduate School of Business ×2Tel Aviv University ×2University of California, Berkeley ×2University of Michigan ×2University of Oxford ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 28 founders with field-of-study data
Engineering ×8Business & Management ×5Computer Science ×4Politics & Policy ×4Finance & Accounting ×3Design & Architecture ×2Economics ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 34 founders with career history
Gravity Payments ×2Shell ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
1 founders hold a PhD · 5 hold an MBA (of 31 with degree data)
Investments · 39 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 22025 · 52024 · 12022 · 12021 · 52020 · 12019 · 217 dated
Pinterest operates a visual discovery platform where users save and browse images organised into boards, used heavily for shopping, recipes and design.
San Francisco, US
Evan Sharp(Co-founder & CDO)Ben Silbermann(Co-founder and Executive Chairman)inPaul Sciarra(Co-founder)Mike Yang(Executive Officer)Natalie Fair(Executive Officer)inBill Ready(Chief Executive Officer)in
Co-investors3Spoke CapitalA.Capital VenturesA*Acequia Capital (AceCap)Allied Venture PartnersAmakor+58 more
Iris Finance is an AI-native financial platform for consumer packaged goods brands, providing real-time P&L visibility, cash flow forecasting, and margin analysis across sales channels and SKUs.
AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaS
Drew Fallon(Co-Founder & CEO)inMarkoin
Co-investorsFounder CollectiveGlasswing VenturesRosecliff VenturesAccess Venture PartnersService Provider CapitalSID Venture Partners+3 more
Blox Snacks produces fruit-flavored gummy snacks branded as FruitBlox and JuiceBlox, marketed to consumers with themed product lines tied to popular online personalities.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsShrug Capital
Celleste Bio develops a cell-based "cocoa technology" combining biotech, agtech, and AI to produce real cocoa ingredients—including cocoa butter and powder—at scale independent of geography and climate.
AgTechBiotechFoodTech
Hanne Volpin(Founder)in
Co-investorsFLORA VenturesTrendlines GroupConsensus Business GroupSUPPLY CHANGE CAPITAL
Scranton, US
Michael Averto(Executive Officer, Director)inJason DePietropaolo(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsAfore CapitalBreak Trail VenturesFour Acres CapitalSupernode VenturesBen Franklin Technology Partners
Clove designs slip-on sneakers for healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses, featuring fluid-resistant, easy-to-clean uppers and a dual-density support system for long work shifts.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Joe Ammon(Founder)in
Co-investorsDorm RoomAccelAir Street CapitalKindredKindred Capital
Commander AI offers a customer relationship management platform designed to help sales teams track opportunities, manage pipelines, and close deals faster.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSSales TechSouth Bay, US
David Berg(Chief Executive Officer (CEO))inShantanu Bhardwaj(Chief Technology Officer (CTO))inDave Meizlik(President & Chief Operating Officer (COO))
Co-investorsTribes VenturesWatchfire Ventures42CAPBADideas.fundGaingelsTenOneTen Ventures
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Confido provides AI-powered automation for cash application, deduction management, and dispute resolution on a single platform, designed specifically for accounting teams at consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSNew York City, US
Kara Holinski(Founder)inJustin Hunter(Founder)inTrevor Hanus(Executive Officer, Director)inEmery Wager(Executive Officer, Director)inStephanie Watanabe(Executive Officer)AJ Hanus(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsFootworkRingbolt CapitalTogether FundWatchfire VenturesY CombinatorBFG Partners+11 more
Footwork is a venture capital firm that leads and co-leads Seed and Series A rounds, typically investing $1–15 million in companies with early product-market fit.
ConsumerEnterprise SoftwareSan Francisco, US
Mike Smith(Partner)inNikhil Basu Trivedi(Partner)in
Co-investorsVintage Investment PartnersAcrew CapitalBFG PartnersBTVWatchfire VenturesY Combinator
FruitScout applies industrial process instrumentation to agriculture by providing machine vision systems and AI-powered planning tools for agave growers.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningYakima, US
Co-investorsBowery CapitalTFX CapitalWatchfire VenturesGraphite HealthSaas Ventures, L.L.C.
Gainful makes personalized performance nutrition products and supplements.
ConsumerE-commerceFoodTechHealthtechWellness & FitnessNew York City, US
Jahaan Ansari(Founder/CTO)inEric Wu(Cofounder)in
Co-investorsCourtside VenturesDorm RoomKli CapitalRound13 CapitalSoma CapitalY Combinator+8 more
GEM makes whole-food nutritional supplements in the form of plant-based bites designed to address nutrient deficiencies using real food ingredients rather than isolated vitamins.
Advanced ManufacturingConsumerFoodTechHealthtechWellness & FitnessVenice, US
Sara Cullen(Founder + CEO)in
Co-investors37 AngelsCollaborative FundSoma CapitalZintinusBase10 PartnersSequoia Capital
GlacierGrid provides smart energy management software that monitors and optimizes HVAC and refrigeration systems to reduce energy consumption and costs.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate TechConstruction TechEnergySaaSRichmond, US
Manik Suri(Founder and CEO)inJoe Parisi(Founder)inNicki Parisi(Founder)inGerald Zingraf(Chief Operating Officer)inLiz Piontkowski(VP of Operations)Alex See(VP of Product)in
Co-investors1st Course CapitalBay Bridge Ventures ClimateClocktower VenturesCollaborative FundDeciensDoon Capital+12 more
GoNanas sells allergen-friendly banana bread baking mixes made with a small number of clean ingredients, offered in a range of rotating and limited-edition flavors.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechChicago, US
Anne Slabotsky(Executive Officer, Director)Morgan Lerner(Co-founder)inAnnie Slabotsky(Co-founder)in
BoardIsaac Arnold(Director)in
Co-investorsEntrepreneur VenturesTribes VenturesWellness Ventures
Materials science company making compostable stretch wrap from plant-based oils and biopolymers.
Co-investorsRCV FrontlineSpringbankTMV
Helaina uses precision fermentation to produce human proteins, including lactoferrin and other bioactive nutrients found in human milk, for consumer nutrition products serving athletes, new parents, and health-conscious consumers.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechFoodTechHealthtechNew York, US
Laura Katz(Founder)in
Co-investorsCosmic Venture PartnersIngeborg InvestmentsPlum Alley InvestmentsPrimary Venture PartnersTrousdale VenturesVisible Ventures+4 more
Hetal uses computer vision and AI applied to in-store aisle recordings to diagnose planogram compliance and shelf conditions for consumer brands.
AI & Machine LearningRetail TechSaaSBronx, US
David Roger(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsHabitat PartnersMarketplaceNomad Venture Partners, LlcNVP CapitalYonder VCNewark Venture Partners+1 more
Jumbotail runs a B2B marketplace platform connecting India's mom & pop grocery retailers (kirana stores) and supermarkets with brands and staples producers, offering products across staples, packaged foods, personal care, and home care.
B2B MarketplacesLogistics & Supply ChainRetail Tech
S.Karthik Venkateswaran(Founder)inAshish Jhina(Founder)in
Co-investorsArkam VenturesCapria VenturesKalaari CapitalSC VenturesSiddhi CapitalAscension Ventures+1 more
Kea AI provides an AI-powered voice phone assistant for restaurants that answers customer calls, takes orders matched against the menu, and handles item, modifier, and FAQ updates.
AI & Machine LearningFoodTechSaaS
Adam Ahmad(Founder)in
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesBeaconsfield CapitalEVPStreamlined VenturesMarbruckSuperAngel+1 more
Kimba makes a biometric sleep device that uses built-in sensors (and optional integration with wearables like Oura, WHOOP, Apple Watch, and Garmin) to deliver personalized, AI-driven natural scent therapy timed to the sleep cycle.
AI & Machine LearningHardwareWellness & FitnessTel Aviv, IL
Ben Fuxbruner(Founder)inGabi Beck(Founder)in
Co-investorsAble PartnersBeyond22fresh.fundPALETTE VENTURESSelva VenturesSupermoon Capital+2 more
LOVE CORN makes crunchy roasted corn snacks sold in multiple flavors and pack sizes for everyday snacking.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechHo-Ho-Kus, US
James McCloskey(Executive Officer, Director)Marissa McCloskey(Executive Officer, Director)Gavin McCloskey(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardShane Thakrar(Director)Thomas Hadley(Director)
Co-investorsPuma Private Equity
Moku makes plant-based snacks from freshly harvested mushrooms, including vacuum-cooked crispy mushroom chips and savory mushroom jerky.
AgTechConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechLos Angeles, US
Matt Feldman(Cofounder)in
Co-investorsLDR VenturesSiddhi CapitalWomen's Equity LabMana Ventures
AllMade Materials develops industrial composite materials and biomass feedstocks from California tree nut byproducts such as almond shells and orchard wood.
AgTechCircular EconomyNew MaterialsCarmel, US
Paul Kephart(Executive Officer, Director)Chuck Templeton(Director)inMarta Kephart(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsS2G Investments
Oakland, US
DAVID MATTHEW LESTER(Director)CHARLES BENNETT GOODWIN(Executive Officer, Director)Ben Goodwin(Founder)inMELVIN LANDIS(Executive Officer)inTRACY HART(Executive Officer)in
BoardCHRISTOPHER DAWE(Director)
Co-investorsAntiBFG PartnersCollaborative FundColterLakeside CapitalLeft Lane Capital+6 more
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Paloma is a commerce platform that lets sellers run and manage sales directly inside Instagram, using Meta's Messaging APIs to process claims, bids, and auctions from Comments, Story Replies, and DMs.
E-commerceRetail TechSaaS
Kelsey Hunter(Founder)in
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesBlack Jays VenturesOverton Venture CapitalAct One VenturesThe Fund
Partake produces non-alcoholic craft beers, including an IPA with citrus and bitterness notes at around 10 calories, aimed at consumers who want craft beer flavor without alcohol.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsAMBERSTONEGroundForce CapitalCircleUp PartnersExport Development Canada (EDC)Natural Products Canada
Pod Foods operates a technology-enabled grocery supply chain platform designed to connect consumer food brands with retail accounts, replacing traditional wholesale distribution models.
B2B MarketplacesFoodTechLogistics & Supply ChainRetail TechSan Francisco, US
Fiona Lee(Executive Officer, Director)inLarissa Russell(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardAinhoa Maiz(Director)inClint Chao(Director)in
Co-investorsConsumer VenturesFunction VenturesK2 GlobalLotus Venture PartnersM12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)Moment Ventures, Llc+8 more
Silkline provides supply chain orchestration software for advanced manufacturers, automating procurement workflows and enabling supplier collaboration to reduce time to revenue and improve operational efficiency.
Advanced ManufacturingEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSChicago, US
Brent Shulman(Founder)in
Co-investors25MadisonMatchstick VenturesOrigin VenturesValia VenturesForward Deployed VCPlow Ventures
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SimpleHedge is a platform for farmers to manage crop and cattle risk by tracking production, sales, inventory, and financial hedges in one place.
AgTechFintechSaaSCalgary, CA
Mark Hlady(Founder)in
Co-investorsTall Grass VenturesStartup TNTTrillick Ventures
Soona provides on-demand custom content creation services for brands, using technology to connect creatives with clients seeking high-quality video and visual content at scale.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyDirect to ConsumerE-commerceMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentRetail TechDenver, US
Elizabeth Giorgi(CEO)Hayley Anderson(CPO)in
Co-investors2048 VenturesBain Capital VenturesCommunity Access FundFOG VenturesGreen Meadow VenturesIrishAngels+8 more
Undivided is a subscription service that helps parents of children with disabilities navigate IEPs, 504 plans, school districts, and disability and insurance benefits, combining AI tools, a HIPAA-compliant digital document binder, plain-language guidance, and human "Navigators" who are experienced parents.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthEdTechLos Angeles, US
Jason Lehmbeck(Co-Founder and Executive Chairman)inJohn Zimmerman(Co-Founder and CTO)Seth Besse(CEO)in
Stay AI is a subscription management platform for e-commerce merchants that enables A/B testing, cross-selling, and personalized offers to reduce churn and increase average order value.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceMarketing TechSaaSPark City, US
Gina Perrelli(Co-Founder, CEO)inTaylor Cawiezell(Co-Founder, Innovation)inPierson Krass(Director)
Co-investorsBFG PartnersKCRise FundRiverPark VenturesRoyal Street Ventures Management Company, LlcWatchfire VenturesYork IE+2 more
ULTRA manufactures nicotine-free, tobacco-free oral pouches containing nootropic ingredients (including Enfinity® Paraxanthine, L-Theanine, and Alpha GPC) designed to support focus, energy, and mental clarity for consumers seeking cognitive enhancement without caffeine or nicotine.
ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsBling CapitalGood FriendsLeft Lane Capital
Waystation helps mid-market procurement teams manage supplier information and sourcing decisions that currently live in email, extracting structured data from communication threads to improve operational efficiency.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFoodTechSaaSRedwood City, US
Co-investorsFloodgateFounder Collective
Co-investorsID8 InvestmentsMilkbox PartnersSilicon Ventures
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
AllMade Materials
Exits · 1
1 IPOsPinterestNYSE: PINS
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesCommander · finsmes.com · Nov 5, 2025
Silkline · geekwire.com · Oct 22, 2025
Iris · thesaasnews.com · Sep 17, 2025
Confido · confidotech.com · Aug 11, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Barrel Ventures made?
- Barrel Ventures has 39 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited, including 8 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Barrel Ventures invest at?
- Barrel Ventures invests at the Seed stage.
- What sectors does Barrel Ventures focus on?
- Barrel Ventures focuses on AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Consumer, Direct to Consumer, E-commerce, FoodTech, Logistics & Supply Chain, New Materials, Wellness & Fitness.
- Where is Barrel Ventures located?
- Barrel Ventures is headquartered in Evanston, US.
- Who does Barrel Ventures co-invest with?
- Barrel Ventures most often shares deals with Watchfire Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Founder Collective, among 114 tracked co-investors.
- What size deals does Barrel Ventures back?
- Across 5 deals with disclosed amounts, Barrel Ventures has joined rounds of $3M – $6.5M (median $4M).
Images
Co-investors · 3
This page announces that GGV Capital split into two separate firms in March 2024: Granite Asia (Singapore, covering APAC) and Notable Capital (US, based in Silicon Valley with offices in San Francisco and New York, investing in the US, Israel, Europe, and Latin America).
Chicago Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that partners with founders in industries it views as overlooked, writing high-conviction checks and taking board seats.
Pritzker Group is a family-backed investment firm that partners with companies for the long term using a permanent capital base, and has acquired or invested in more than 100 companies.
Firms observed investing alongside Barrel Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Barrel Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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