Listen Ventures
Venture capitalActively deployingChicago · Seed–Series A · 8 people tracked
Also known as LISTEN LLC
Investment thesis
Listen is a consumer-obsessed venture capital firm that backs founders building disruptive brands positioned at the tipping point of behavioral shifts. The firm emphasizes deep listening and consumer insight as central to identifying and supporting emerging brands and companies shaping the future of how people live and consume.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 25, 2026.
Team · 8 people
from public directories
What they invest in
from 21 of 30 portfolio companiesConsumer ×12Direct to Consumer ×11Wellness & Fitness ×7Healthtech ×5Digital Health ×4E-commerce ×3Creator Economy ×2EdTech ×2
HQs:United States×19India×1
Investments · 30 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12025 · 12024 · 22023 · 12022 · 12021 · 12020 · 12018 · 22016 · 111 dated
Carol Stream, US
John Mikulich(Executive Officer)Nathan Laurell(Executive Officer, Director)William Besenhofer(Executive Officer, Director)Besar Xhelili(Director)
BoardLindsay Levin(Director)
Board seatJeff Cantalupo· per SEC Form D · $3M raise · filed Jan 2026
Cafeteria is a platform that connects teens with brands for paid conversations and content creation opportunities.
AI & Machine LearningB2B MarketplacesConsumerCreator EconomyMarketing TechSocialNew York, US
Rishi Malhotra(Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer.)in
Co-investorsCollaborative FundImaginary Venture Capital
Chicago, US
Dustin Netral(Director)Craig Ulliott(Executive Officer, Director)Adam Goldenberg(Director)
Board seatJeff Cantalupo· per SEC Form D · $10.3M raise · filed Jul 2018
Chicago, US
KELLSI BOOTH(Executive Officer)Jeffery David(Executive Officer, Director)Mark Hanson(Executive Officer, Director)LOREN EGGLETON(Executive Officer)MATTHEW HANSON(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatJeff Cantalupo· per SEC Form D
Onyx MP operates a telehealth e-commerce platform and end-to-end software connecting patients, board-certified practitioners, and compounding pharmacies, with a focus on access to compounded medications.
Digital HealthDirect to ConsumerHealthtechAustin, US
Michael Apostal(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardKent Bains(Director)Vikas Patel(Director)Vipul Khanpara(Director)
Board seatJeff CantalupoRick Desai· per SEC Form D · $14.9M raise · filed Feb 2025
Chicago, US
George D Bousis(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardAnthony Florence(Director)Jason Pritzker(Director)Jeremy Levine(Director)
Board seatJeff Cantalupo· per SEC Form D · $818.3K raise · filed Jun 2016
Rise Gardens makes indoor hydroponic garden systems that grow up to 108 plants and 40 lbs of produce per month without soil, paired with a companion app that provides automated lighting, watering, and step-by-step growing guidance.
AgTechConsumerHardwareChicago, US
Henry Adams(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
Board seatJeff Cantalupo· per SEC Form D
Slumberkins creates children's books, plush creatures, and affirmations designed to teach kids emotional lessons and build resilience.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerEdTechSpokane, US
Callie Christensen(Chief Brand Officer)Kelly Oriard(Chief Therapeutic Officer)Suzanne Kolb(Chief Executive Officer)Mark Schneider(Chief Financial Officer)
BoardEdith Dorsen(Director)inCaroline Lewis(Director)in
Board seatRick Desai· per SEC Form D
Co-investorsDns CapitalLong Way VenturesRogue Womens FundSeaChangeCascade Seed FundInterplay Ventures Early Stage Management Llc
Calm is a mental health app offering guided meditations, sleep stories, soundscapes, and stress-relief tools designed to help users manage anxiety, improve sleep, and build healthy habits for overall wellness.
HealthtechMental HealthWellness & Fitness
David Ko(CEO)
Co-investorsBrighter CapitalCherubic VenturesConnect VenturesElefundEQUIAMEvio VC+17 more
Dame designs and engineers sexual wellness products, including vibrators such as Eva and Fin, developed in-house to address disparities in sexual pleasure and satisfaction for women.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFemTechWellness & FitnessNew York, US
Alexandra Fine(Co-founder)Janet Lieberman(Co-founder)
Co-investorsAmboy Street VenturesigniteXL VentureJoyance Partners
Dame designs and engineers sexual wellness products, including vibrators and other sex toys, developed in-house with input from a clinical board.
Direct to ConsumerFemTechWellness & FitnessBrooklyn, US
Alexandra Fine(Co-founder)Janet Lieberman(Co-founder)Benjamin Aldridge(Executive Officer)
BoardRick Desai(Director)in
Co-investorsAssembled BrandsigniteXL VentureJoyance PartnersChingona Ventures
Beverage company backed by Listen, described as the future of drinking.
Co-investorsTIMIA Capital
Factor is a meal delivery service offering chef-prepared, ready-to-eat meals made with proteins, vegetables, whole grains, and fresh herbs, with over 100 rotating weekly options plus breakfasts, smoothies, and snacks.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsBluestein VenturesFlow CapitalHyde Park Angels
Jolie manufactures shower water filters designed to remove impurities before water contacts skin and hair.
ConsumerWellness & FitnessLos Angeles, US
ANN HSING(Executive Officer)DAVE BERAN(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)MICHAEL SIMKIN(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)AARON SIMKIN(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
Co-investorsMidnightResolute Ventures
KiwiCo creates hands-on creative project kits for children, helping families spend time building, exploring, and creating together.
ConsumerCreator EconomyEdTech
SandraSandra Oh LinYael Pasternak ValekYu Pan
Co-investors500 GlobalBrighter CapitalComcast VenturesFelicis VenturesForerunner VenturesGrace Beauty Capital+2 more
Miss Grass is a cannabis brand offering THC and CBD products, including gummies and pre-rolled flower "minis" in sativa, indica, hybrid, and 1:1 CBD:THC varieties.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Co-investorsAdvancit CapitalCasa Verde CapitalMerida Capital HoldingsHelm
Wellness & FitnessNew York City, US
Aaron Albert(Executive Officer, Director)Mark Groves(Executive Officer)Matthew Sadofsky(Director)
BoardJeff Cantalupo(Director)
Co-investorsSocial StartsTechstarsAble PartnersJoyance PartnersRoute 66 VenturesWndrCo
Oros makes outerwear and apparel insulated with its proprietary SOLARCORE technology, a thin insulation that provides warmth without bulk.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerNew Materials
Co-investorsBeyond CapitalElizabeth Street VenturesigniteXL Venture
Own Up is a mortgage advisory platform that uses technology to help homebuyers evaluate lenders, understand affordability, and compare loan offers.
FintechPropTechBoston, US
Patrick Boyaggi(Co-founder & CEO)Mike Tassone(Co-founder & COO)Brent Shields(Co-founder & CTO)Michael Tassone(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
BoardBrian Spaly(Director)inRick Desai(Director)in
Co-investorsLaunchCapitalLink VenturesTechstarsBrand Foundry Ventures
Public Goods sells household, personal care, and everyday consumer products made with natural ingredients and sustainable materials, offered through a membership model.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceHealthtech
Morgan Hirsh(Founder)inFahad ParachaGad BentolilaGerry BurtenshawMichael FerchakSean Kim
Co-investors500 GlobalChapter OneKnockout CapitalYes VC
Co-investorsAccelAllied Venture PartnersBorderless VentureManta Ray VenturesNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)Paper Ventures+2 more
Sigo Seguros is a digital auto insurance agency that lets customers compare quotes from multiple insurers online and buy a policy in Spanish, with or without a US driver's license.
FintechInsurTech
Co-investorsKern Venture GroupNewlin VenturesRemarkable VenturesBlockchain Founders FundChingona Ventures
The Cumin Club makes regional Indian meals produced in its own facility in India, without preservatives, offering ready-to-eat Indian food to consumers.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Serra Ventures
Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioFresh Factory B.COTC: FRFAF
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesSlumberkins · koin.com · Aug 14, 2026
Calm · funderintel.com · Jul 16, 2026
Jolie · morninghoney.com · Jul 5, 2026
Fresh Factory B.C · morningstar.com · Mar 18, 2026
KiwiCo · entrepreneur.com · Sep 10, 2025
Cafeteria · latimes.com · Aug 5, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Listen Ventures made?
- Listen Ventures has 7 tracked investments, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Listen Ventures invest at?
- Listen Ventures invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Listen Ventures's typical check size?
- Listen Ventures typically writes checks of $1M – $10M.
- What sectors does Listen Ventures focus on?
- Listen Ventures focuses on Consumer, Enterprise Software, FoodTech, Media & Entertainment, SaaS.
- Where is Listen Ventures located?
- Listen Ventures is headquartered in Chicago, US.
- Does Listen Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Listen Ventures leads investment rounds.
- Who does Listen Ventures co-invest with?
- Listen Ventures most often shares deals with Cherubic Ventures, Connect Ventures, Felicis Ventures, among 26 tracked co-investors.
From the blog
visit blog ↗Listen has published research on three consumer behavior shifts: hemp-derived THC beverage occasions driven by diverse consumer motivations, the complex lived experiences of midlife women and investment opportunities in serving them, and the potential of food as preventive medicine against chronic disease. AI summary
Images
Co-investors · 25
Chingona Ventures is an early-stage venture firm backing founders building businesses in rapidly changing, often overlooked growth markets.
Accel is a venture capital firm that partners with exceptional teams, positioning itself as a first partner to founders globally.
New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is a venture capital firm that invests in and provides long-term support to founders building new companies.
Brand Foundry Ventures is a consumer product-only seed investor that focuses exclusively on "things you can see, touch, feel, and interact with" rather than software, targeting sustainable $250M-$750M outcome brands instead of chasing billion-dollar unicorns. The firm was born from Andrew Mitchell's successful angel investments in Warby Parker, Birchbox, Harry's, and Peloton, and maintains an unusually hands-on approach through their "People/Product/Pipeline" framework that requires founders to think as deeply about supply chain and margins as they do about design and marketing.
Yes VC is an early-stage venture firm that invests in category-defining companies at the pre-seed and seed stages.
Bessemer Venture Partners is a global venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs across enterprise, consumer, and healthcare sectors from early stages through growth.
Alumni Ventures (AV) is a venture capital firm that co-invests alongside lead VCs in startups, backing founders with capital and access to a large investor and operator community.
Uncork Capital (formerly SoftTech VC) is a seed-stage venture firm that invests early in founders, with a focus on AI-native companies building leverage and scale.
Mayfield is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage consumer and marketplace companies, backing founders from inception through IPO.
FundersClub is an online venture capital firm and startup investing platform that gives accredited investors access to vetted early-stage startups from Silicon Valley and beyond.
▶13 more co-investors
Flybridge Capital PartnersRed Swan VenturesNextGen Venture PartnersRenegade PartnersMarch Capital PartnersScribble VenturesHyde Park Venture PartnersmParticle1/1 CapitalKeiretsu CapitalPeterson Venture PartnersMuse CapitalVice Ventures
Firms observed investing alongside Listen Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Listen Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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