The go-to finance podcast for the consumer goods industry. Host Drew Fallon brings on experts to cover everything from capital markets transaction to tactical tips on how to scale a company from the CFOs seat
On this episode of Making Cents with Drew Fallon, we sit down with Kiva Dickinson, founder of Selva Ventures. Kiva shares his journey from investment banking and TPG to launching a highly concentrated, consumer-focused VC fund that has backed brands like Nut Pods, Liquid IV, and Grüns.
Key Takeaways:
Why repeat purchase and gross margin are the two most critical metrics for early-stage CPG brands looking to raise capital.
The common false positives when transitioning a high-growth DTC brand into retail.
The underwriting thesis behind the Grüns investment and how founder Chad utilized the Netflix "no rules, rules" hiring philosophy.
How macro shifts like the longevity movement, GLP-1 medications, and children's nutrition are creating massive market dislocations.
How massive CPG incumbents like Nestlé and Unilever navigate M&A to acquire the future of consumer goods.
Whether you are a founder looking to raise your seed round or an operator trying to understand how venture capitalists evaluate retail velocities, this episode is packed with capital market insights.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction & Kiva's Private Equity Background
03:22 - Launching Selva Ventures & Check Sizes
07:34 - What VCs Look For: Repeat Purchase & Gross Margin
11:32 - Evaluating Retail Velocity in Lower Margin Categories
14:46 - The DTC to Retail Transition Trap
18:38 - The Grüns Investment & Hiring High Performers
28:09 - Professionalization and Preparing for an Exit
34:48 - Market Trends: Longevity, GLP-1, and Children's Nutrition
40:35 - The Future of CPG Mergers & Acquisitions
Learn more about Iris Finance at: https://www.irisfinance.co/ (https://www.irisfinance.co/)
Follow our host, Drew Fallon, on X for more insights: https://x.com/drewfallon12 (https://x.com/drewfallon12)
#VentureCapital #ConsumerGoods #StartupFunding #CPG #MakingCents
19 Aug 2026
E:23 | How IM8 Secured $1 Billion to Dominate the Supplement Industry | Brian Rosin
On this episode of Making Cents with Drew Fallon, we sit down with Brian Rosin, the CFO of IM8. Brian shares his incredible and unconventional journey from leaving his corporate job to work for $100 a month to becoming a public company CFO in the global consumer goods space.
Key Takeaways:
Hear how Brian helped scale Rant Sports from a small blog to a $30M a year business before selling to a public company.
Learn the private equity playbook for acquiring, polishing, and flipping Amazon-native supplement and skincare brands.
Discover the mechanics of the General Catalyst funding facility, which acts as a securitization of subscription gross profit to fund 70% of marketing upfront with zero dilution.
Understand the macro tailwinds driving the premium supplement space, including longevity trends and GLP-1 usage.
Get tactical advice for $10M to $50M founders: why you shouldn't "skip steps" and how bringing in a strong finance mind can add turns to your exit multiple.
Whether you are a founder trying to professionalize your business or an operator looking to understand innovative capital structures, this episode is packed with CFO-level insights.
Watch the full episode to learn how to scale your brand to the next level!
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction & The $100/Month Startup Gamble
06:02 - Transitioning to E-commerce & The Private Equity Playbook
13:27 - Discovering IM8 & Becoming a Public Company CFO
23:52 - Breaking Down the General Catalyst Funding Facility
32:04 - Cost of Capital Mechanics & Non-Dilutive Growth
37:36 - Competing with Thorne and AG1 in the Supplement Space
43:17 - Macro Trends: Longevity and GLP-1s
45:46 - Advice for Founders: Why You Can't Skip Steps
Learn more about Iris Finance at: https://www.irisfinance.co/ (https://www.irisfinance.co/)
Follow our host, Drew Fallon, on X for more insights: https://x.com/drewfallon12 (https://x.com/drewfallon12)
#CFO #ConsumerGoods #StartupFunding #PrivateEquity #MakingCents
19 Aug 2026
E: 22 | How I Raised $24M With a Cold Website Form | Daniel Rainey
On this episode of Making Cents with Drew Fallon, we sit down with Daniel Rainey, founder of Stars and Honey. Daniel shares his incredible journey transitioning from B2B private equity into the highly competitive consumer goods space.
Key Takeaways:
Learn how Daniel hit profitability in just four months by obsessing over LTV and CPA contribution math.
Hear why he decided to build his own manufacturing facility early on to control product innovation and margins.
Discover the massive market tailwinds that fueled their growth, including a rise in women's weight training and GLP-1s.
Get the inside story on how he successfully pitched VMG Partners to fund a massive retail expansion into Target and Costco.
Understand why blending strict financial discipline with a strong, artistic brand identity is the ultimate competitive advantage.
Whether you are an operator or an investor, Daniel's transition from finance to CPG founder provides a masterclass on capital allocation and retail scaling. Watch the full episode to learn how to build a modern consumer brand!
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction & Daniel's Private Equity Background
06:21 - Why Protein Bars? Entering a Commoditized Market
09:17 - Growth Tailwinds: Women's Fitness & GLP-1s
14:26 - The Origin and Design of "Stars and Honey"
18:45 - Bootstrapping, DTC Launch, & Building In-House Manufacturing
25:41 - Scaling to $50M: Profitability, LTV, & CPA Metrics
31:53 - Raising Capital from VMG Partners
43:48 - The Power of Vertical Integration in CPG
50:45 - The Future of Stars and Honey
Connect:
Follow our host, Drew Fallon, on X for more insights: https://x.com/drewfallon12 (https://x.com/drewfallon12)
#CPG #Founders #VentureCapital #BusinessStrategy #MakingCents
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