Event Details

Weathering the Gathering Storm: Survival Training Series for Emerging CPG Brands, Part 1 - Raising Capital


Virtual Education Event, Wednesday, June 29, from 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. PT.


Capital raising for emerging food & beverage brands is becoming more challenging in the current market environment. Inflation, supply chain issues, turbulence on Wall Street, and geopolitical conflict have given investors pause. Hear about what is currently attracting capital in the food & beverage sector, questions that investors are digging deeper into now, and how you can best position your company for a successful capital raise in 2022.


This is part one of a four-part series to help entrepreneurs prepare for and endure the financial uncertainties of the current market. Join us on July 20th for Part 2 - Managing Cash, in October for Part 3 - Borrowing Money, and in November for Part 4 - Getting Profitable.

Speakers

  • Cessna Mac (she/her/hers) (Principal at Amberstone)

    Cessna Mac (she/her/hers)

    Principal at Amberstone

    https://amberstone.com/

    Cessna Mac is a Principal at Amberstone Ventures, an early-stage investment firm based in San Francisco that provides capital, strategic guidance, and operating expertise to visionary entrepreneurs leading emerging, mission-driven, branded food, beverage & consumer product companies, including JuneShine and Honey Mama's. She leads deal sourcing, diligence, and portfolio company support.

    Prior to joining Amberstone, Cessna was an investor at PowerPlant Partners in Los Angeles, a management consultant at EY-Parthenon in New York City, and a public school teacher with Teach For America in the Bay Area.

    Cessna holds an MBA from The Wharton School and an A.B. from Harvard University. She is passionate about building community through health and wellness and enjoys teaching and practicing yoga.

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  • David Davick (CFO at Propeller Industries)

    David Davick

    CFO at Propeller Industries

    https://www.propellerindustries.com/

    David Davick is a seasoned finance executive energized by helping early-stage businesses grow successfully and establish a more sophisticated approach to their finances. Since joining Propeller in 2016, Dave has served as CFO and/or transaction advisor for over 75 SaaS, CPG, Blockchain and Tech clients.

    Dave has 25 years of professional experience in Investment Banking, Corporate Finance, Investor Relations, and Public Accounting. In addition to his client work, Dave has leadership responsibilities for Propeller’s West Coast operations including its Business Development efforts and as Co-Lead of Propeller’s Transaction Advisory practice.

    Prior to joining Propeller, Dave spent more than a decade at Gap Inc. During his tenure at Gap, he led the global apparel company’s Investor Relations program that was ranked #1 in the industry in Institutional Investor magazine’s 2015 survey of Buy-Side investors. Dave also oversaw teams responsible for Financial Planning and Analysis, Real Estate finance and capital allocation. He also served as Gap brand’s financial lead on strategic initiatives including mobile platforms, marketing effectiveness and third-party partnerships.

    Dave began his career in Investment Banking, working in J.P. Morgan’s technology investment banking practice (then Hambrecht & Quist) and in audit and advisory services for PricewaterhouseCoopers. In those roles, he worked with organizations ranging from early-stage startups to large-cap public companies.

    Dave is on the advisory board of HomeRunIQ, a real estate and financial technology startup. He is a former board member of the San Francisco chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). He earned a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Virginia.

    Outside of work, Dave and his wife, Natalya, report to their board of directors: their son, Felix, and daughter, Sasha.

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  • Don Buder (Partner at DWT)

    Don Buder

    Partner at DWT

    https://www.dwt.com/

    Don is a strategic legal advisor and corporate counsel to emerging growth and middle-market Food & Beverage, Food Tech, and Ag Tech innovators and investors. His clients are based in the major U.S. food hubs, including the Bay Area, Boulder, Brooklyn, Austin and Los Angeles. His law firm, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (DWT), has one of the largest food & beverage practices in the United States, with over 40 attorneys serving food venture entrepreneurs, emerging brands, larger food companies, and the private equity firms that invest in them, at every level of the food chain from "Farm to Label". Don is a Founding Faculty Member and member of the Advisory Board of the Food Business School at the Culinary Institute of America (Napa Valley). He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the board of Directors of KCETLink TV, the public television station in LA, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Technion Society - San Francisco Chapter.

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  • Robyn Rutledge (Founder & CEO of SBG Growth)

    Robyn Rutledge

    Founder & CEO of SBG Growth

    https://www.sbggrowth.com/

    Robyn Rutledge’s nearly two decade-long career in finance and investing has been concentrated in the consumer industry, with focus on food, beverage, and wellness-oriented companies. Robyn is the Founder & CEO of SBG Growth, a consumer-focused investment and advisory business. Through SBG, Robyn invests directly in consumer-facing businesses, often serving on the Board of Directors and as a regular advisor to the leadership team. Robyn also currently advises investment firms, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders on the consumer market landscape. Under the SBG umbrella, Robyn has also been serving a leadership role in CALM, an innovative startup backed by the University of California, which seeks to marry best-in-class consumer engagement, healthcare and technology. Prior to launching SBG, Robyn spent close to a decade with TSG Consumer Partners, a leading investment firm, where she was a Managing Director and Partner and subsequently an Operating Partner. Prior to TSG, Robyn was a member of the investment team at Thoma Cressey (now Thoma Bravo), and prior to that, worked in M&A at Goldman Sachs in New York. Robyn was born and raised in Canada and received a Bachelor of Commerce with First Class Honors from Queen’s University in Kingston. She subsequently earned an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arjay Miller Scholar. Robyn is a passionate believer in life-long learning and is pleased to have been part of the The Food Business School’s formation team at the Culinary Institute of America.

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