Able Partners

FINALLY, a market map for founders of VCs investing in consumer ? Over the past year, it’s become increasingly difficult to identify which VCs are still committed to backing consumer startups. This uncertainty leaves founders wondering where to turn for funding and who is actively pursuing opportunities in the space. To help, we’ve compiled a curated list of early-stage consumer VCs still investing in consumer tech, marketplaces, prosumer tools, subscription models, and CPG/eCommerce. This list makes it easier for founders to connect with investors ready to fuel the next wave of consumer innovation.

Very often I go to health conferences where the only food and snack options are unhealthy. Shouldn't health conferences be an opportunity to show that healthy food can also be delicious? People might try some healthy new food that they love and make a point of making it back at home. That's why I loved seeing this spread from Function Health's New York launch breakfast hosted by Able Partners, a beautiful table featuring carrot muffins, avocado tartines, coconut cloud smoothies, turmeric chai oat + seed pudding and raspberry pomegranate oat + seed pudding, along with a grazing board including beet deviled eggs, matcha pistachio energy balls, tinned fish and fermented sides. We need to rethink our assumption that business events must always by default serve unhealthy foods — that can also, in fact, make us less energetic, less focused and less productive.

??? We are excited to share our investment in OneSkin, a skin longevity company founded by a team of four female PhDs including Carolina Reis Oliveira and Alessandra Zonari. OneSkin’s proprietary peptide, OS-01, is designed to reduce the skin's biological age by improving the skin barrier, supporting DNA damage repair, and preventing the accumulation of aged cells. ???? Our interest stemmed from our thesis work exploring the human microbiome's potential. The skin microbiome, like the gut, is a delicate ecosystem of millions of microbes, and when the balance of good microbes is disrupted in dysbiosis, there is an increased risk of inflammatory skin conditions. OS-01 has been clinically validated and published in peer-reviewed journals to show how it supports the health of the skin microbiome. ?? ?? Lisa, Amanda and I are looking forward to collaborating with an incredible set of investors including Kiva Dickinson and the team at?Selva Ventures, Olivier Garel, Anna Ohlsson-Baskerville and the team at Unilever Ventures and Amanda Groves and the team at PLUS Capital ??

Fall is flying by ?????? and we wanted to take a moment to share some exciting news across our portfolio ?? ???? ??ZBiotics launched their?highly anticipated sugar-to-fiber probiotic mix which converts sucrose into beneficial prebiotic fiber that cultivates a healthier microbiome. ?? Spring Health announced a comprehensive offering to support managers by providing real-time support and resources to effectively navigate the challenges of leadership while prioritizing both their own mental health and that of their teams. ?? Amae Health expanded its footprint with the formal opening of their NYC clinic in partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to deliver integrated whole-person physical and behavioral health care to individuals struggling with severe mental illness. ?? Benny launched their consumer app, streamlining access for individuals to government benefits including the ability to receive cash back on SNAP purchases. ?? ōURA, growing 100% year over year, announced the new Oura 4 ring with improved features and accuracy. ?? Kosas officially launched in the Middle East, a meaningful milestone for Sheena Zadeh who has said her Middle Eastern heritage has deeply influenced her understanding of beauty and self-expression. ♀?Maven Clinic announced that it raised a?$125 million?Series F on the heels of unveiling their new partnership with Amazon to support women's and family health across their global employee base. ?? Little Otter released an in-depth report, The Hidden Crisis, leveraging proprietary data to understand the state of children's mental health. While the statistics are deeply concerning, the report emphasizes the importance of early intervention and virtual care. cc: Lisa Jacobs Blau, Amanda Eilian & Claire Akkan ????

I sat down with the co-founders of Able Partners,?Lisa Jacobs Blau?and?Amanda Eilian,?to discuss their journey into venture capital and the purpose behind their work. Check out the full article for insights into venture capital's role in human health, emerging trends, and what gets them excited to invest every day!

Very grateful and excited to share that we completed our Series A round earlier this year (see press release below)!? The whole team at ZBiotics has been working ridiculously hard to create incredible growth and success that put us in a great position to complete this raise!? We’re laying the foundation for an exciting new category of genetically engineered probiotics, and I’m so phenomenally excited about where we are and where we’re headed as a company. Thanks to the Series A, we’re in a strong position to continue growing the digital footprint of Pre-Alcohol, as well as launching that product into brick-and-mortar retail.? In addition, we’ll be gearing up to launch our second product (very soon!) and investing in an exciting pipeline of new products in development.? We’ll also be able to invest in international expansion, company culture initiatives, and more resources across the board!? Thank you sincerely to Spring Tide Capital for leading the round, and welcome to the team!? And also big thanks to Access Capital, Seamless Capital LP, Goat Rodeo Capital, Seaside Ventures, Siddhi Capital, Able Partners, Pure Ventures, Y Combinator, and all of our other investors – existing and new – who made this possible!? It’s an exciting time to be at ZBiotics!

As we focus on Connection & Community as a core vertical, we're increasingly aware of the unique challenges faced by Gen Z. Among those aged 18-24, 13% are "disengaged," meaning they're neither working nor in school. Additionally, 45% of people aged 18-29 still live at home. Four-year college enrollment has dropped by 8% in the last five years, and 55% of this generation expresses little interest in having children. The traditional path to independence looks different for Gen Z, highlighting a need for products and services that resonate with their values. If they're not meeting each other at work or school or focusing on raising families, we're keen to explore how this generation will build connection and community—whether through caring for pets and plants, spending disposable income in travel, or channeling their energy and resources into creating their ideal home environment. #genz #investingingenz