9 Leading Angel Investors Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs Should Know
Looking for funding for your food and beverage startup? We've compiled a list of 9 active angel investors to help you find the right partner for your business.
Rho Editorial Team
For food and beverage startups, angel investor funding provides the essential early capital and industry guidance needed to grow operations and expand market reach.
Examples of active angel investors include Brian Spaly, Ramanan Raghavendran, Seth Levine, and Marvin Liao, who have backed a variety of startups.
If you’re raising or have just closed a round, Rho’s platform gives you the tools to manage your new capital, including FDIC-insured accounts, corporate cards with up to 2% cashback, automated bill pay, spend controls, and real-time accounting integrations.
Raising capital for your food, beverage, or CPG startup requires knowing who to talk to. Familiarity with the key angel investors in your industry can make a real difference as you prepare to fundraise.
Angel investors are distinct from venture capital firms. They often invest their own money and can bring personal experience to the table, acting as early partners in your company's growth.
We created this guide to introduce you to some of the most active angel investors in F&B. Consider this your starting point for finding the right people to connect with for your startup.
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Top Food and Beverage Angel Investors By Stage
Angel investors in food and beverage often back early-stage companies so they can provide hands-on support from the beginning.
Knowing who invests at your stage is key to finding the right partners to help your company grow.
Pre-seed Angel Investors in Food and Beverage
Pre-seed is the earliest stage of funding, typically used to validate an idea and build a minimum viable product. For this stage, you might connect with investors like Ramanan Raghavendran and Jeff Pomeranz.
Seed Stage Angel Investors in Food and Beverage
Seed funding helps a startup with initial market entry, product development, and hiring key team members. Some notable seed-stage investors in the food and beverage space include Brian Spaly, Marvin Liao, and Lauren Loktev.
Series A Angel Investors in Food and Beverage
Series A funding is for companies with a proven track record that need capital to scale their operations and user base. Investors like Seth Levine, Vijit Sabnis, and Kiersten Stead often participate in this round.
Series B Angel Investors in Food and Beverage
Series B rounds are for well-established companies looking to expand into new markets or acquire other businesses. An example of an investor who has participated in Series B funding for F&B is Steven Denning.
Keep in mind that many investors are flexible and participate in multiple funding stages. Their focus can shift based on the opportunity and their fund's strategy.
Here is a closer look at some of the top angel investors in the food and beverage industry. We've included key details about their typical investment stages, areas of focus, location, and what makes each one a compelling partner for founders.
1. Brian Spaly
Brian Spaly is a partner at Brand Foundry Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm. He is known for backing consumer-facing companies and has a background in building successful brands himself.
He primarily invests at the seed stage, with a focus on e-commerce, retail, and food and beverage sectors. His portfolio includes the cannabis-infused beverage company Cann, showing an interest in emerging CPG categories.
Founders building direct-to-consumer brands that need support with brand strategy and early market entry may find him to be a good fit. His experience suggests a founder-first approach with an eye for strong brand potential.
- Investment stages: Primarily Seed
- Industries of focus: Fashion, Retail, E-commerce, Food and Beverage
- Geographical presence: Based in Austin, Texas
- Ideal investment range: $100K - $10M, with a sweet spot around $1M
- Notable portfolio companies: Cann, Crown Affair, Hello Cake
- Portfolio size: Has made around 40 investments
You can find more information about Brian Spaly on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.
2. Ramanan Raghavendran
Ramanan Raghavendran is a managing partner at Amasia, a venture capital firm with a global perspective. His career includes senior roles at firms like Insight Venture Partners and General Atlantic, giving him a deep background in venture investing.
He primarily invests in pre-seed and seed-stage companies across a broad range of industries, including Food and Beverage, ClimateTech, and SaaS. His investment in Living Food shows his interest in the F&B sector, especially with early-stage companies that have international potential.
Founders at the earliest stages who are building companies with cross-border ambitions could be a good match. His experience is particularly relevant for startups in his focus industries that are planning for global scale from day one.
- Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed
- Industries of focus: Food and Beverage, ClimateTech/CleanTech, SaaS, FinTech, E-commerce
- Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
- Ideal investment range: $100K - $5.0M
- Notable portfolio companies: Living Food, Joro, ClimateTrade
- Portfolio size: Has made 84 investments
You can find more information about Ramanan Raghavendran on his personal website or LinkedIn profile.
3. Seth Levine
Seth Levine is a partner at Foundry, a venture capital firm with a significant presence in the tech community. He has a background in backing a wide range of technology-driven companies.
A key characteristic of his investment approach is his flexibility, participating in both Seed and Series A rounds. His portfolio includes the food-tech company Castiron, signaling an interest in F&B, alongside other sectors like FinTech, SaaS, and Web3.
Founders developing tech-enabled platforms for the food and beverage industry could be a strong match. His experience is well-suited for early-stage companies that need a partner with a broad perspective across different technology verticals.
- Investment stages: Seed, Series A
- Industries of focus: Food and Beverage, FinTech, SaaS, E-commerce, Web3
- Geographical presence: Based in Boulder, Colorado
- Ideal investment range: $100K - $5.0M
- Notable portfolio companies: Castiron, FloatMe, Blocknative
- Portfolio size: Has made 67 investments
You can find more information about Seth Levine on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.
4. Marvin Liao
Marvin Liao is a venture capitalist and angel investor with a background that includes time at the accelerator 500 Startups. He is known for his extensive work with early-stage companies across the globe.
A notable characteristic of his investment strategy is its breadth, covering everything from Food and Beverage and BioTech to Developer Tools and MarketingTech. He focuses on the seed stage, participating in rounds for companies like Ready Player Me, and shows a clear preference for helping founders at the beginning of their journey.
Founders building companies in a wide variety of sectors could find him to be a valuable partner. His focus on the seed stage makes him a good fit for startups looking for their initial funding and guidance.
- Investment stages: Seed
- Industries of focus: Food and Beverage, Consumer Health, Fashion, MarketingTech, Sales & CRM
- Geographical presence: Based in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Ideal investment range: $10K - $500K, with a sweet spot around $250K
- Notable portfolio companies: Ready Player Me, Obie, Infraspeak
- Portfolio size: Has made at least 7 investments
You can find more information about Marvin Liao on his website or LinkedIn profile.
5. Steven Denning
Steven Denning is the chairman of General Atlantic, a global growth equity firm. He has extensive experience in private equity and has been with the firm for several decades, shaping its investment strategy.
His investment activity shows a focus on later-stage funding, such as Series B rounds. His participation in the funding for Philz Coffee indicates an interest in established food and beverage brands poised for major growth.
Founders with a proven business model and significant traction may find him to be a good match. His firm is suited for companies that are past the early stages and are seeking substantial capital to scale operations.
- Investment stages: Series B
- Industries of focus: Food and Beverage
- Geographical presence: Based in New York, New York
- Ideal investment range: $20.0M - $100.0M
- Notable portfolio companies: Philz Coffee
- Portfolio size: Has made at least 1 investment
You can find more information about Steven Denning on his firm's website or his Crunchbase profile.
6. Vijit Sabnis
Vijit Sabnis has a background as a venture partner at Khosla Ventures and brings deep technical expertise to his investments. His experience as a scientist and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford shape his investment perspective.
He concentrates on Series A funding rounds, with an interest in sectors like Manufacturing, BioTech, and Food and Beverage. His portfolio, which includes companies like Arevo and Light Field Lab, points to a preference for businesses built on significant technical or scientific foundations.
Founders with a strong engineering or scientific background may find him to be a particularly good partner. He is a good match for companies that have a complex product and are seeking Series A capital to scale.
- Investment stages: Series A
- Industries of focus: Manufacturing, Health & Hospital Services, Food and Beverage, BioTech, Health IT
- Geographical presence: Based in San Jose, California
- Ideal investment range: $100K - $20.0M, with a sweet spot around $6.0M
- Notable portfolio companies: Light Field Lab, Arevo
- Portfolio size: Has made at least 3 investments
You can find more information about Vijit Sabnis on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.
7. Lauren Loktev
Lauren Loktev is an angel investor with a background that includes roles as a partner at Collaborative Fund and senior vice president at New Island Capital. Her experience spans venture capital and impact investing, giving her a broad perspective on early-stage companies.
She shows flexibility by investing in both Seed and Series A rounds, often in consumer-facing businesses. Her portfolio includes the alternative protein company Prime Roots, indicating an interest in the food and beverage sector, alongside FinTech companies like Long Game and Pinch.
Founders building consumer brands in F&B or FinTech at the seed or early stages could be a good match. Her smaller investment range suggests she is a valuable co-investor who can bring strategic insight to a funding round.
- Investment stages: Seed, Series A
- Industries of focus: Food and Beverage, FinTech, Health IT, Consumer Internet
- Geographical presence: Based in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Ideal investment range: $5K - $50K, with a sweet spot around $25K
- Notable portfolio companies: Prime Roots, Long Game, Pinch
- Portfolio size: Has made at least 5 investments
You can find more information about Lauren Loktev on her LinkedIn or Angel.co profile.
8. Jeff Pomeranz
Jeff Pomeranz is a Managing Director at Right Side Capital Management, an active venture firm focused on early-stage companies. With a long history in alternative investments, he brings considerable experience to his role in backing new businesses.
He invests at the pre-seed and seed stages across a broad spectrum of industries, including Food and Beverage, ClimateTech, and Consumer Health. His investment in the social platform TradingView shows his interest in tech-enabled companies with large communities.
Founders at the very beginning of their journey who are seeking initial capital may find him to be a good match. His firm's wide-ranging focus makes him a potential partner for startups in many different sectors.
- Investment stages: Pre-seed, Seed
- Industries of focus: Food and Beverage, ClimateTech/CleanTech, Consumer Health, Retail, Social Commerce
- Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
- Ideal investment range: $50K - $200K, with a sweet spot around $125K
- Notable portfolio companies: TradingView
- Portfolio size: Has made at least 1 investment
You can find more information about Jeff Pomeranz on his firm's website or his LinkedIn profile.
9. Kiersten Stead
Kiersten Stead is a managing partner at DCVC, a venture capital firm that invests in deep tech companies. Her background as a scientist informs her investment thesis, which is centered on businesses built on significant scientific and technical innovation.
A key aspect of her approach is her focus on companies at the intersection of technology and life sciences, particularly in BioTech and AgTech. She often invests at the Seed and Series A stages and has supported portfolio companies like Novome Biotechnologies through later rounds.
Founders with a strong scientific or engineering foundation who are tackling complex problems in her areas of interest would be a great fit. She is well-suited to support companies that require a partner with deep technical understanding.
- Investment stages: Seed, Series A
- Industries of focus: BioTech, DeepTech, AgTech, Food and Beverage
- Geographical presence: Based in San Francisco, California
- Ideal investment range: $5.0M - $25.0M
- Notable portfolio companies: Novome Biotechnologies, Plexium, Latus Bio
- Portfolio size: Has made 17 investments
You can find more information about Kiersten Stead on her firm's website or her LinkedIn profile.
What Startup Founders Should Look for in a Food and Beverage Investor
When seeking a food and beverage investor, look beyond the check size. The right partner brings relevant industry expertise, a valuable network, and strategic guidance that aligns with your company's long-term vision.
As the investors on this list demonstrate, many have a broad focus that includes technology, SaaS, and consumer goods alongside F&B. This suggests that tech-enabled food companies or brands with strong direct-to-consumer potential can be particularly compelling to a wider range of investors.
Before reaching out, research an investor's complete portfolio to understand their investment thesis and see if your startup fits. A targeted approach is more effective than a broad one when you find angel investors.
Ultimately, your goal is to find a partner who understands your specific market and the unique challenges of your funding stage. Use this list as a starting point for your own detailed research.
Raise Confidently with Rho
Fundraising requires significant time and focus, which are always in short supply for a founder. A targeted list of investors helps you direct your energy toward the conversations that are most likely to move your business forward.
If you’ve just raised, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes. Our platform offers integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to manage your new capital efficiently.
This allows you to direct your angel capital toward growth and operations. You can spend less time on financial admin and more on building your company.
FAQs about Food and Beverage Angel Investors
Are there food and beverage angel investors in New York?
Yes, major startup hubs like New York City have a high concentration of angel investors. Many are open to food and beverage startups, especially those with strong consumer brands or tech components.
Do angel investors fund food tech or just CPG?
Many angel investors fund both. While some prefer tangible CPG products, others are interested in food tech, including AgTech, delivery platforms, and restaurant software. Your business model will determine the best investor fit.
What if my startup is too early for seed funding?
If you're pre-product, focus on investors who specialize in early-stage funding. These angels often invest based on the strength of the founding team and the market opportunity, providing capital to validate your idea.
Where can I find F&B investors outside of major tech hubs?
While hubs like the Bay Area are prominent, investors are everywhere. Look into growing ecosystems like Austin, Chicago, and Miami. Local angel groups are also a great resource for finding capital in your region.
How should I approach a food and beverage angel investor?
A warm introduction is best. If that's not possible, send a concise, personalized email that clearly explains your business, your traction, and why you believe they are a good fit for your company's specific needs.
How can Rho help after I secure funding?
Once you've raised capital, our platform helps you manage it. We provide integrated banking, corporate cards, and expense management, so you can focus on growth. Get started with Rho to streamline your finances.