Fundraising Fox
Willow Growth Partners
Venture capitalMalibu · Seed–Series A · 6 people tracked
Also known as Willow Growth
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Investment thesis
Willow Growth Partners backs founders building the next generation of iconic consumer brands, focusing on wellness as a way of life. Its strategy rests on three pillars: values-led investing (healthier, transparent, accountable brands), strong fundamentals (attractive margins, unit economics, lifetime value, predictable repeat purchasing, and capital-efficient paths to profitability), and optimal capital structure (leading the first institutional round with a disciplined approach to valuing, capitalizing, and scaling brands). The firm takes a founder-first approach and treats every investment as a genuine partnership.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 29, 2026.
Team · 6 people
from the firm's website & public directories
Founder mafia
2 people who came through Willow Growth Partners went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 15 of 26 portfolio companiesConsumer ×10Direct to Consumer ×9Wellness & Fitness ×5E-commerce ×4AI & Machine Learning ×2FoodTech ×2Healthtech ×2Retail Tech ×2
HQs:United States×13
Investments · 26 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12025 · 42023 · 52022 · 32021 · 42019 · 12017 · 119 dated
Marina Del Rey, US
Juan Pablo Montufar(Director)inJohn Tabis(Executive Officer)
BoardPaul Ferris(Director)MICH MATHEWS(Director)
Board seatDeborah Benton· per SEC Form D · $24M raise · filed Feb 2017
Co-investorsAliment CapitalAmplify.LAPartech VenturesPontifax AgTech
DAASH combines multiple research panels, social and advertising signals, and product attribute data to model sales performance, market share, and emerging trends for consumer brands.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureMarketing TechRetail Tech
Melissa Munnerlyn(CMO)inPhilip Smolin(CEO)inJustin Stewart(CTO)in
Co-investorsBullpen CapitalEntrepreneur VenturesGFT VenturesHypothesisNew Stack VenturesOpenSky Ventures+2 more
Coterie provides commercial insurance for small, new, and home-based businesses, delivered through a quoting and binding platform that gives agents and brokers instant bindable quotes.
FintechInsurTechSaaSAppleton, US
David McFarland(Founder)in
Co-investorsAlign VenturesAllianz XAllos VenturesAlpha EdisonFrontier Venture CapitalIntercept Ventures+6 more
Daash Intelligence runs an AI-based predictive commerce intelligence platform for beauty and personal care retail brands.
San Francisco, US
Philip Smolin(Executive Officer, Director)inKim Perell(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardRoss Kimbel(Director)in
Co-investorsBullpen CapitalGFT VenturesNew Stack VenturesOpenSky VenturesRed Bike CapitalSilicon Road Ventures
A direct-to-consumer beauty brand that produces hair care and styling products including dry shampoos, volumizing mousses, styling creams, and fragrance mists.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceWellness & FitnessArizona, US
Co-investorsVerity Venture PartnersHSBCJP Morgan Chase
An industrial IoT company enabling secure communications and private exchanges between devices through distributed network technology.
Co-investorsBackstage CapitalGen CapitalPantera CapitalVTF CapitalZenStone Venture CapitalFINTOP Capital+1 more
Goodles produces snacks and gives away at least 1% of products sold to organizations addressing food insecurity, focusing on supporting children's nutrition and well-being.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechImpact & Social GoodSocial
Jen Zeszut(Founder)inPaul Earle(Founder)
Co-investors1st Course CapitalAlumni VenturesAngel groupAurumBasecamp FundCosmic Venture Partners+7 more
KilgourMD makes a dual-action scalp and hair serum system (Prevention and Treatment) formulated with ingredients like Redensyl, Capixyl, and Procapil to reduce hair shedding and support hair growth in women.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerWellness & FitnessWilmington, US
Dr. Kilgour(Founder & Board-Certified Dermatologist)Michael Clauss(Founder)inDr. James Kilgour(Founder)in
Co-investorsAble PartnersDorm RoomJoyance Partners
Kosas develops clean cosmetics that combine makeup and skincare, offering products such as cream cheek and lip color and complexion items with a shade-matching quiz for consumers.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceLos Angeles, US
Sheena Yaitanes(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsAble PartnersBeechwood CapitalBeliadeImaginary Venture CapitalStripesTq Ventures Llc
Lalo designs baby and toddler essentials aimed at parents, focusing on products that are durable, safe, and made with attention to design.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Michael Wieder(Founder)in
Co-investorsMaywic Select InvestmentsSpin Master VenturesSuperangelSuperAngel.FundInterplay Ventures Early Stage Management LlcThe Fund
Lygg develops a photostable chemical ingredient for skincare that provides enhanced protection against UVA radiation, tripling the effectiveness of existing FDA-approved options for sun damage prevention.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerSan Francisco, US
Graham Dick(Founder)in
Co-investorsStartXY CombinatorLLLP
Maev produces raw, fresh dog food made with human-grade USDA protein and formulated by PhD veterinary nutritionists.
ConsumerFoodTechHealthtech
Co-investors1st Course CapitalBFG PartnersContraryDorm RoomGood FriendsSpringdale Ventures
MANSCAPED is a Silicon Valley consumer products company focused on men's grooming and personal care.
Retail TechSilicon Valley, US
Paul Tran(Founder and CEO)inSteve King(Co-Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer)inKevin Datoo(Executive Officer, Director)Evan Richter(Director)Katy Hopwood(Director)Phillip Unthank(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsEPIC VENTURESLongley CapitalRx3 Growth PartnersSmash CapitalSocial LeverageStructural Capital+2 more
Noodle partners with universities to design, build, and manage online and hybrid degree programs.
AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsEdTechEnterprise SoftwareSaaSNew York, US
John Katzman(CEO)inRanjan DanielsKeri Hoytin
BoardNelson C. Baker, Ph.DJames DeVaneyEddie Maloney
Co-investors500 GlobalGreat Oaks Venture CapitalNew Markets Venture PartnersOwl VenturesSWaN & Legend Venture PartnersAlumni Ventures+7 more
Perelel makes doctor-formulated vitamin and supplement packs tailored to specific stages of women's hormonal lives, including trying to conceive, pregnancy trimesters, postpartum, motherhood, and perimenopause.
Direct to ConsumerFemTechWellness & FitnessSanta Monica, US
Victoria Thain Gioia(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inAlexandra Taylor(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Banafsheh Bayati(Co-Founder (board-certified OB/GYN))
BoardRachel Harris(Director)inNeda Daneshzadeh(Director)in
Co-investorsSelva VenturesUnilever VenturesPRELUDEPrelude Growth Partners
Phyla produces skincare products for acne-prone skin, including a pH-balancing gel cleanser that removes excess oil without irritation.
BiotechConsumerHealthtechMedical DevicesWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsProgressionAimTop VenturesJoyance PartnersSocial Starts
Youthforia was a consumer beauty/cosmetics brand that sold its products direct to consumers.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Co-investorsTrue Beauty Ventures
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YSE Beauty offers a curated line of skincare and makeup products aimed at busy women seeking quick, effective results.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Molly Sims(Founder)in
Co-investorsHalogen Ventures Management Company LlcSilas Capital PartnersL Catterton
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Love All Little OnesTomboy ExchangeBubbleDae HairDe SoiOther HalfYGNYSE
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.
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesManscaped · en.wikipedia.org · Aug 19, 2026
Bouqs · finance.yahoo.com · Jan 21, 2026
Perelel · finsmes.com · Nov 20, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Willow Growth Partners made?
- Willow Growth Partners has 26 tracked investments, including 5 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Willow Growth Partners invest at?
- Willow Growth Partners invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Willow Growth Partners's typical check size?
- Willow Growth Partners typically writes checks of $750K – $1.3M.
- What sectors does Willow Growth Partners focus on?
- Willow Growth Partners focuses on Consumer, Digital Health, Direct to Consumer, FoodTech, Impact & Social Good, Wellness & Fitness.
- Where is Willow Growth Partners located?
- Willow Growth Partners is headquartered in Malibu, US.
- Does Willow Growth Partners lead rounds?
- Yes, Willow Growth Partners leads investment rounds.
- Who does Willow Growth Partners co-invest with?
- Willow Growth Partners most often shares deals with 1st Course Capital, Gaingels, Plug and Play Ventures, among 42 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamInvestor Spotlight: Deborah Benton of Willow Growth Partners
Startup CPG · Deborah Benton
Live Q&A with Deborah Benton, Founder & GP at Willow Growth Partners
Female Founder Collective · Deborah Benton
Images
Co-investors · 11
Verity Venture Partners is an early-stage investment firm that partners with consumer brand founders once their companies reach $1-10M in sales, supporting them across strategy, execution, talent, and capitalization.
True Beauty Ventures is a specialist investment firm backing breakout beauty and wellness brands from Seed through Series B, offering founders capital alongside industry insight, access, and operational partnership.
Greycroft is a venture capital firm that partners with founders across multiple industries and geographies, investing in software, sustainability, and consumer brands.
Catapult Capital is an operator-led investment firm that backs market-defining AI, internet, software, and life science platforms, pairing hands-on operating expertise with a founder network to create value.
Upfront Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in and partners with startups over the long term.
BAM Ventures is an early-stage investment firm made up of experienced entrepreneurs based in Southern California, backing founders building consumer-focused technologies, products, and services that transform commerce.
Pelion Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs and invests in early-stage B2B software-based companies. Since 1986, Pelion Venture Partners has been helping entrepreneurs turn early-stage concepts into tomorrow's industry-leading companies. Pelion invests in early-stage B2B software across the US. With 7 investment team members, Pelion has deepand diverse industry and investment experience. They are hands-on in their approach and work collaboratively with each portfolio company.
Tribeca Venture Partners is a New York-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage founders using emerging technologies to build category-defining companies.
TA Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in ambitious technology startups building the industries of tomorrow.
Act One Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Los Angeles and San Francisco that invests in founders building AI-native enterprise platforms.
Fabric VC is a venture capital firm that invests in mission-aligned founders and startups, and facilitates community through connector events to reshape the venture capital ecosystem.
Firms observed investing alongside Willow Growth Partners, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Willow Growth Partners's recorded portfolio.
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