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Jason Starr
Chief Executive Officer at Awakened Foods
Greater Chicago Area
Overview
Jason Starr is a seasoned venture capitalist and entrepreneur, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Awakened Foods and the Founder and Managing Director of Consumer Ventures. He has a strong track record of investing in and supporting the growth of consumer brands and technologies, with notable achievements including leading investments in companies like BABOON TO THE MOON and Caraway.
Highlights of Jason Starr's career include his role as the Founder and Managing Director of Consumer Ventures, where he has successfully invested in and helped build the next generation of consumer brands and technologies, and his current position as the Chief Executive Officer of Awakened Foods, where he continues to drive innovation and growth in the consumer industry through strategic investments and partnerships.
Work Experience
Chief Executive Officer
2023 - Current
Awakened Foods is revolutionizing snacking and the health of our country by providing healthier, natural, better for you and better for the world options across the spectrum of snacks. Awakened Foods consists of a family of consumer brands including Free to Eat, B. Fine Foods, and Ka-pop! Snacks and a co-manufacturing company Awakened Foods Crafters.
Founder, Managing Director
2017
Consumer Ventures invests in and focuses on the exciting market of innovative, emerging consumer brands with high growth potential. We back passionate, inspired entrepreneurs with big ideas and look for opportunities where we can provide value beyond capital. Consumer Ventures invests across multiple stages of growth, preferring opportunities to "reinvest in success" i.e. continue to invest in the best companies in our portfolio across multiple rounds. We also like to co-invest with great partners to bring the best resources to companies to help them achieve success. To view more about our firm and the companies we've invested in, please visit http://consumer.vc/ PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON WORKING WITH AND CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR EXISTING PORTFOLIO OF COMPANIES AND ARE NOT MAKING ANY NEW INVESTMENTS AT THIS TIME
Consumer Ventures is a venture capital and advisory firm based in Chicago focused on building great consumer brands and companies.
Board of Directors
2019
Murphy’s Naturals is a veteran owned business and a certified B Corp that creates products made from responsibly sourced, plant-based ingredients. Murphy’s leaves out all of the chemicals and toxins and instead focuses on providing amazing, earth-friendly products that help others and their communities.
Mentor
2019
The Food Foundry is a Chicago-based growth accelerator program by Relish Works built in partnership with Gordon Food Service and 1871. The Food Foundry supports, connects, and propels innovative startups who are reimagining the food industry.
Food Foundry is a growth accelerator program that provides promotion solutions to enhance business growth for catering industries.
Member / Mentor
2019
Polsky Exchange Mentor
2017
I am a mentor to students, start-ups, and New Venture Challenge teams through the Polsky Exchange / Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (the University of Chicago incubator). Members of the Polsky Exchange can sign up for my office hours through the Polsky Center.
Head of Funds
2016 - 2016
I led the management of the CircleUp family of private equity funds and the direct investment of capital from those funds into businesses on the CircleUp platform.
CircleUp is an investment platform that provides capital and resources to innovative, early-stage consumer brands.
Raised $253,000,000.00 from Michigan’s state pension fund and Pacific Life.
Board of Directors (Observer)
2016 - 2016
Rhythm Superfoods was an investment made by CircleUp (as part of a round led by 301 INC / General Mills).
Rhythm Superfoods is a natural food brand that is focused on healthy food and making healthy snack food.
Raised $9,175,000.00 from Blueberry Ventures, 301 and CircleUp.
Member of the Board of Directors
2015 - 2015
Diono was an investment made by Winona Capital.
A Seattle, WA-based provider of innovative juvenile products
Board of Directors
2015 - 2015
Fat Brain Toys was an investment made by Winona Capital. Fat Brain Toys was acquired by TOMY International.
Fat Brain Toys operates as an independent toy company.