About
Nate Cooper is a Partner at Barrel Ventures, which he founded to back entrepreneurs challenging the status quo. Before investing, he was an operator himself, founding L3 Hospitality Group and later Wise Apple, a company focused on reinventing kids' lunch. He holds an undergraduate degree from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, where he was a Kellogg Scholar and Zell Fellow. He is an endurance athlete based in Chicago and serves on associate boards for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and Social Venture Partners.
Contact· published on Nate's own website
Invests in
ConsumerE-commerceFoodTechLogistics & Supply Chain
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Founded Barrel Ventures. Founded L3 Hospitality Group. Founded Wise Apple, a company focused on changing kids' lunch.
- Education
- Graduated from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University. Earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, where he was awarded a Kellogg Scholarship and named a Zell Fellow.
- Boards
- Serves on the associate board of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Serves on the associate board of Social Venture Partners.
- Hobbies
- Is an endurance athlete. Describes himself as a movie quote savant.
From Nate's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Experience
- Barrel VenturesFounder & Managing Partnercurrent2019 — presentChicago
- OLIPOP PBCInvestorcurrent2018 — present
- NOWADAYSInvestorcurrent2024 — present
- ConfidoInvestorcurrent2023 — present
- Iris FinanceInvestorcurrent2024 — present
- Ultra PouchesInvestorcurrent2025 — present
- KimbaInvestorcurrent2025 — present
- LinokTechInvestorcurrent2025 — present
- DigitInvestor/Board Observercurrent2026 — present
- CommanderAIInvestorcurrent2025 — present
- HelainaInvestorcurrent2020 — present
- Hetal RetailInvestorcurrent2025 — present
- Celleste Bio Ltd.Investor/Board Observercurrent2022 — present
- FruitScoutInvestorcurrent2024 — present
- GoNanasInvestor/Board Membercurrent2022 — present
- BloxSnacksInvestor/Board Observercurrent2023 — present
- Stay AIInvestorcurrent2022 — present
- CES Family of CompaniesBoard Membercurrent2022 — present
- JumbotailInvestorcurrent2019 — present
- L3 Hospitality GroupCo-Founder & Partnercurrent2013 — presentGreater Chicago Area
- project44Advisor2018 — 2021Chicago
- Wise AppleCo-Founder & President2015 — 2018
- LYFE KitchenDirector, Special Projects & Investor Relations2011 — 2013Palo Alto, CA
Skills & more
Restaurants36Entrepreneurship32Marketing31Food & Beverage27Strategic Planning21New Business Development14Start-ups5Social Media19Food12Hospitality13Marketing Strategy13Social Media Marketing10
+8 more
FundraisingPublic RelationsIdea GenerationRestaurant ManagementMarket ResearchSocial NetworkingManagementLeadershipFrom Nate's professional profile.
Investments
Investor
CloveHausOlipop
Per curated public sources.
Colleagues at Barrel Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Nate Cooper?
- Nate Cooper is a Partner at Barrel Ventures, which he founded to back entrepreneurs challenging the status quo. Before investing, he was an operator himself, founding L3 Hospitality Group and later Wise Apple, a company focused on reinventing kids' lunch. He holds an undergraduate degree from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, where he was a Kellogg Scholar and Zell Fellow. He is an endurance athlete based in Chicago and serves on associate boards for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and Social Venture Partners.
- Where does Nate Cooper work?
- Nate Cooper is Managing Partner at Barrel Ventures.
- What does Nate Cooper invest in?
- Nate Cooper invests in Consumer, E-commerce, FoodTech, Logistics & Supply Chain.
- What check size does Nate Cooper write?
- Nate Cooper typically writes checks of $250K.
- What companies has Nate Cooper invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Clove, Haus, Olipop.
- Where did Nate Cooper go to school?
- Nate Cooper studied at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management (Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies); Emory University - Goizueta Business School (Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance and Organization & Venture Management); Highland Park High School.
Same school
Also attended Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management577
Jenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaKunal BahlCo-founder of Snapdeal; co-founder of Titan CapitalAndy FligelSenior Managing Director at Intel CapitalDavid Clark GuillermoInvestments at Impact America FundGiuseppe DonvitoPartner at P101 VenturesAntonio TurroniOperating Advisor at P101 Ventures
+ 571 more
Also attended Emory University - Goizueta Business School103
Allen ChenPrincipal at Osage University PartnersJaclyn Freeman HesterGeneral Partner at FoundryAnek Kusuwan (Art)Investor at Openspace VenturesJason KuoPrincipal at Tech Square VenturesHari GopalDirector of Corporate Insights at Tech Square VenturesDavid LeightInvestment Principal at Red Cell Incubation
+ 97 more
