Springdale Ventures

This week's VC event in Sante Fe did not disappoint! A few of our team member went to "NM Venture Connect: Founders and Funders" and got the opportunity to network with 100+ founders, venture capital firms and strategic partners. Thank you Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association for having us and hosting such a great event. Genevieve G. Gilbreath | Dan Graham | Mollye Lent Santulli

"Chaos Packaging." Have you heard of it? Well, this packaging trend is taking over consumer goods, so we're unboxing it. ?? ?? First, what is Chaos Packaging? This interesting new CPG trend, dubbed by marketing and VC consultant Michael J. Miraflor, was described in a recent WSJ article (linked below): "Packages that cause some kind of cognitive dissonance are more likely to capture the attention of shoppers than traditional boxes, bottles and cans." ?? Ok, so why are brands doing this? One simple reason: To stand out. Advertising has become more expensive, suppliers are battling for shelf space and the traditional D2C consumer goods model is struggling under the weight of logistics costs and supply chain issues. Plus, consumers are curious to try new brands-especially if it makes a great photo. Crazy Packaging = Free Social Media Shares! ?? Here We Flo is a great example of this trend. Susan C. Allen Augustin is the co-founder of Flo, a menstrual health company using ice-cream containers to package tampons. She explained that: 'We have to make the product a billboard.' Flo's ice cream tub tampon packaging is a nod to the cravings that descend during periods, but more importantly, they catch shoppers' eyes on shelves amongst the countless established tampon brands. Creative, right? We think so. ?? But, does Chaos Packaging go too far? Enter cases of consumer confusion. Some Flo customers report putting their tampons in the freezer after mistaking it for actual ice cream. Meanwhile, Vacation Inc.'s viral Whipped Cream Sunscreen looks more like dessert than SPF. That's one reason why happy? Coffee co-founder, Craig Dubitsky, took an unusual, yet more practical approach. ?? Happy Coffee's packaging found calm in the chaos In 2008, Dubitsky co-founded eos Products, the sphere-shaped lip balm that took the world by storm, so he knows the importance of eye-grabbing packaging. So, Happy Coffee stands out in its sleek, white packaging next to its rivals' dark, masculine packages. "Investing in design is even more important now than other forms of storytelling and awareness-building have become not just expensive, but very crowded, so if the algorithm doesn't find you, you're in big trouble," Dubitsky said. ?? TLDR; MAKE SURE YOU STAND OUT, BUT FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS. What do you think about Chaos Packaging and this trend? Let's chat in the comments. ?? #consumergoods #cpgindustry #cpgbrands

A giant Brandjectory thank you & tons of gratitude for Mollye Lent Santulli, Springdale Ventures, who joined us for the Space Walk! Laura Shafferman, Tim Holland, Rebecca A. Styn, Ph.D. & Evan Delahanty practiced their pitch with Mollye! Mollye provided feedback, suggestions, ideas & advice to help them continue to improve & hone their investor pitches! All part of the Brandjectory touch -- giving brand founders access to the best & brightest of the CPG industry! Find out more: www.brandjectorynow.com Susan Bryenton #emergingbrands #founders #entrepreneur #investors #investing #funding #fundraising #cpgindustry #cpg #foodandbeverage #betterforyou #healthandwellness #connectingpeople #networking #buildingrelationships #mentoring #coaching #event #pitchslam #pitch #webinars

Taylor Swift is making small brands cry—in a good way. Business owners opened up to Marketing Brew about the "speed, sincerity, and embracing the Swifties." "It has been referred to as the “Taylor Swift effect,” which can be both quick and disruptive, usually in a good way: businesses that have experienced it often report skyrocketing sales and near-instant brand visibility to a massive audience. While Swiftie attention delivers immediate eyeballs, business owners are focused on crafting the right responses during their moments in the spotlight to help their brands stay bejeweled." Savvy founders are transforming fleeting moments into sales, like Fazit and Wove, whose products were both spotted on Swift during National Football League (NFL) games. Fazit experienced a 1,000% increase in sales and web traffic in the first 12 hours. Wove saw a 450% increase in jewelry sales and more than a 2,500% increase in web traffic post Swift appearance. CEO of Wove, Simone Kendle, explained the need to be strategic around meeting this demand, having the biggest community moment, and being smart about product, pricing, availability—and staying true to their mission. While it's exciting to see a mega-star wearing your brand, "it was crucial that Wove not become “the Taylor Swift custom-jewelry business" because Wove stands for more than that. Read the interesting article on #MarketingBrew: https://lnkd.in/gieS4A6b

Want to learn how define your market and better connect with your consumers? Tune into the latest Brandjectory podcast, featuring our Venture Partner Rajaa Grar as she shares her unique insights and actionable takeaways! https://lnkd.in/gDwvS94P #cpgindustry #consumergoods #brandmarketing

At Mosie, we're proud to have helped over 100,000 families build their dreams on their own terms. Our Mosie Baby Kit features a comfortable and easy-to-use at-home insemination syringe, designed with convenience, accessibility, and comfort. We understand the importance of family planning, and Mosie is committed to providing a solution that empowers individuals and couples to create their own unique family stories. Read inspiring success stories from Mosie families:?https://lnkd.in/g_Ch3RmA #MosieBaby #MosieBabySuccess #HomeInsemination #Pregnancy #FemTech #Fertility #ReproductiveHealth #Health #Healthcare

One common question we get is, 'How many tries does Mosie take?' Experts suggest trying with Mosie for a minimum of 3 cycles and a maximum of 6 cycles. Mosie, just like all means of conception including IVF and the old-fashioned way, is no guarantee of pregnancy. There are many factors when it comes to trying to conceive, many of which we do not have control over, but with Mosie, we can at least help things get to the right place. It’s important to note that, according to a study published in the journal Human Reproduction, chances of conceiving increase with attempts! At Mosie Baby, we are committed to empowering people with the tools they need to make their family on their terms and to celebrating the many definitions of what it means to be a Mosie Family. Explore the Mosie Baby Kit and discover how its innovative design can support your family-building goals. Learn more at?www.mosiebaby.com #MosieBaby #HomeInsemination #Pregnancy #FemTech #Fertility #ReproductiveHealth #Health #Healthcare

At first glance, many VC firms may feel similar. However, there are big differences that set us apart. This article from The Harbus News Corporation does a great job at explaining that. Here are the big differences between these top venture capital firms, from the brilliant people who work there. Collide Capital, MAYA CAPITAL, Harlem Capital, defy.vc, Springdale Ventures & .406 Ventures https://lnkd.in/gHDxz8sA

Founders usually pitch themselves. In my latest piece for the The Harbus News Corporation, I asked VC's to do the pitching. Thank you for taking part: Brian Hollins of Collide Capital Monica Saggioro Leal of MAYA CAPITAL Henri Pierre-Jacques of Harlem Capital Medha Agarwal of defy.vc Mollye Lent Santulli of Springdale Ventures Kathryn Taylor Reddy of .406 Ventures https://lnkd.in/gDmbRWPR

Exciting Internship Alert! Join Austin’s AI Innovation Scene | Spring 2025 Are you ready to dive into the future of AI? Portalis.ai, an Austin-based AI startup, is seeking a driven and communicative person for a unique dual-role internship that combines creative AI development with client success! In this paid, part-time Avatar Development & Client Success Specialist role, you’ll: ? Design and build custom AI-powered avatars for real clients ? Create and refine prompt structures for avatar “brains” ? Lead client onboarding calls and demos of our Avatar Editor tool ? Clean and structure data using large language models (LLMs) ? Be the primary point of contact for clients via video calls and Slack ? Work hands-on with our development and design teams ? Help clients integrate avatars into their platforms Perfect for an individual who: ? Have strong written and verbal communication skills ? Are eager to learn AI tools and technologies ? Can manage multiple projects simultaneously ? Are comfortable with client-facing responsibilities ? Can commit ~25 hours/week ? Basic programming knowledge is a plus! What makes this unique: ? Direct mentorship from company leadership ? Real-world experience in both AI development and client success ? Hands-on work with cutting-edge AI technology ? Flexible work environment - remote or in our Austin office Join us in shaping the future of digital communication! Our AI-powered avatars are revolutionizing how businesses interact online, providing 24/7 multilingual engagement. Interested? Shoot me a note!