BIGR Ventures

BIGR Ventures Research Investment Thesis BIGR Ventures is a specialized growth equity fund dedicated to investing in early-stage natural and organic food and beverage companies. Founded in December 2015 by proven industry veterans with over 70 years of combined natural products experience, the firm leverages unparalleled industry relationships, distribution networks, and operational expertise to maximize growth potential of portfolio companies. The fund believes that the natural and organic foods category represents significant growth opportunities for well-positioned companies with authentic products and professional management. Core Investment Focus BIGR Ventures focuses exclusively on the natural and organic products sector, particularly: Natural and Organic CPG : Companies producing natural, organic, and health-conscious food and beverage products Functional Foods & Beverages : Products with health claims including super herbs, wellness ingredients, and functional nutrition Alternative/Specialty Categories : Grain-free, gluten-free, paleo, non-GMO, and clean-label products Cold-brew and Ready-to-Drink Beverages : Premium and convenience-focused beverage formats Plant-based and Sustainable Products : Hemp-derived products, organic certifications, sustainable sourcing They explicitly avoid traditional junk food brands and companies without authentic natural/organic credentials. Stage and Check Size Stage Focus : Seed and Series A investments, with selective Series B participation Pre-revenue to early revenue companies: $1M-$15M in existing revenue Seed rounds: $2.5M-$8M typical size Series A rounds: $8M-$17M typical size Check Size : Minimum: $500,000 Typical range: $1M-$3M Maximum observed: $17M (High Brew Coffee Series A) Co-investment Pattern : Frequently co-invests with other funds (e.g., AccelFoods, BFG Partners) and strategic natural foods partners. Lead Tendency BIGR Ventures leads seed and Series A rounds with significant frequency. Recent investments indicate: Lead Role : BIGR leads or co-leads majority of investments Board Seats : Partners actively take board seats at portfolio companies Hands-on Involvement : Direct operational support and strategic guidance to portfolio companies Recent Activity & Fund Status Fund Details: Initial Fund (BIGR Ventures LP): $55M+ committed capital (closed September 2016) Founded: December 2015 Status: Actively deploying, well past initial fund close with 10+ portfolio companies Recent Investments (2016-2020): Fat Snax: $4.5M-$5M Series A (April 2020) - low-carb keto snacks RE Botanicals: $2M+ seed round (April 2019) - organic hemp CBD products Soozy's Grain-Free: $2.5M seed (June 2018) - grain-free baked goods High Brew Coffee: $17M growth capital (May 2017) - premium cold-brew Bobo's Oat Bars: $8M Series A (March 2017) - organic oat bars Bonafide Provisions: Strategic investment (2016) - frozen organic bone broth Portfolio Highlights Active Portfolio (13+ companies): Fat Snax - Low-carb keto snacks, Series A funded, strong growth RE Botanicals - Organic hemp CBD, USDA organic certified Soozy's Grain-Free - Grain-free NYC baked goods, scaling nationally High Brew Coffee - #1 cold brew in convenience channel, RTD leader Bobo's Oat Bars - Organic oat bars since 2003, Series A funded Hope Foods - Leading organic hummus brand in natural channel Bonafide Provisions - #1 frozen organic bone broth REBBL - Category leader in organic super-herb elixirs Temple Turmeric - Board representation EPIC - Board representation Primizie - Board representation Suja Juice - Board representation Thorne Nature Experience - Board participation Realized/Exited Investments: Live Beverages - Kombucha company (exited) Board Participation : Managing partners sit on 12+ portfolio company boards, indicating deep operational involvement and value-add. Leadership & Team Three Managing Partners (70+ years combined natural products experience): Carole Buyers - Co-Founder & Managing Partner 20+ years in natural foods industry One of first analysts to cover Whole Foods Former RBC Capital Markets equity analyst Former SVP Business Development & Investor Relations at Gaiam, Inc. Former SVP at Boulder Brands, led acquisition of 4 companies (75% of sales) Former Managing Director of Boulder Brands Investment Group Current/former board positions: Temple Turmeric, EPIC, Bonafide Provisions Bill Weiland - Co-Founder & Managing Partner 26+ years in natural foods distribution/brokerage Founder of Presence Marketing (largest independent natural foods broker in US) Built out regional broker network to create unmatched competitor positioning First call for natural food companies seeking broker representation Provides deal flow, innovation insights, and distribution support Duane Primozich - Co-Founder & Managing Partner 20+ years in natural foods industry Former VP at Frontier Natural Products Co-op Former VP at WhiteWave Foods Co-founder of Pixie Mate specialty tea business Former EVP at Boulder Brands (managed Balance segment with 3 of 6 businesses) Former Managing Director of Boulder Brands Investment Group Extensive current/former board service: Suja Juice, EPIC, Temple Turmeric, Primizie, Live Soda, Bonafide Provisions, REBBL, Bobo's, High Brew, Soozy's, Hope Foods Team Advantages: Unmatched industry relationships in natural foods Multi-decade operating experience at large CPG firms Combined expertise spans production, distribution, retail, and acquisition integration Deep networks with natural foods retailers, brokers, and industry players Hands-on board participation providing strategic and operational value Geographic Focus Headquarters : Boulder, Colorado Primary Markets : United States (nationwide) Portfolio Geography : Offices and companies across US (Boulder, Austin, Berkeley, San Diego, NYC, San Francisco) Distribution Advantage : Via Presence Marketing relationships across all major natural foods channels Decision Process & Timeline Decision Process : Partnership with Managing Partners actively involved All partners review investment opportunities Board representation indicated active ongoing governance Hands-on operational involvement with portfolio companies Decision Timeline : Moderate to fast (4-8 weeks estimated) Strong deal flow from Presence Marketing broker network Industry relationships and pattern recognition enable efficient diligence Partnerships with AccelFoods and other co-investors Warm Introductions : Highly preferred via Presence Marketing broker network or existing portfolio companies. Typical Involvement Board Participation : Active board representation at virtually all portfolio companies Operational Support : Strategic planning assistance Sales and marketing initiatives Acquisition integration expertise Retail channel access and distribution guidance Natural foods industry insight and problem-solving Investment Process & Selection Criteria Deal Sources: Presence Marketing broker relationships (proprietary deal flow) Industry relationships through managing partners' networks Portfolio company syndication opportunities Natural foods industry events and conferences Selection Criteria: Authentic natural/organic product positioning Experienced management team $1M-$15M revenue at entry Path to national distribution via natural foods channels Differentiated products with defensible positioning Willingness to accept hands-on partner involvement Anti-thesis : Conventional junk food brands Companies without authentic natural/organic credentials Pure e-commerce plays without retail distribution Founders unwilling to accept guidance Competitive Landscape Unique Advantages vs. Other VC: Unmatched CPG industry expertise (70+ years combined) Distribution muscle through Presence Marketing (largest independent broker) Hands-on operational involvement through active board service Pattern recognition in natural foods category Acquisition integration expertise Fund Status BIGR Ventures remains actively invested with mature portfolio. The fund appears to be in deployment phase with continued focus on opportunistic investments aligned with thesis.