NC

Nate Cooper

Managing Partner at Barrel Ventures

Greater Chicago Area

Overview 

Nate Cooper is the Managing Partner at Barrel Ventures in the Greater Chicago Area, with a focus on investing in various sectors including Food and Beverage, Retail, and E-commerce. He has successfully invested in companies like OLIPOP, Wise Apple, and Shiftgig, showcasing his expertise in strategic planning and new business development within the startup ecosystem.

Work Experience 

  • Founder & Managing Partner

    2019 - Current

    Investing at the early stages throughout the food ecosystem

Barrel Ventures is a seed-stage fund focused on the broken food ecosystem

  • Investor

    2018

OLIPOP is the clinically backed consumer beverage that meets consumer’s real-world taste preferences in a delicious tonic.

Raised $43,500,000.00 from Paul Klein, Nick Tran, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Jay Livingston, Monogram Capital Partners, Rocana Venture Partners, Rupert Lincoln, Adam Eskin, Devon Levesque and Marianna Hewitt.

  • Board Observer

    2022

  • Board Member

    2022

GoNanas is a women-owned food company that offers gluten-free and top allergen-free banana bread.

Raised $700,000.00 from Naturally Chicago and SnackFutures.

  • Board Observer

    2023

  • Investor

    2024

  • Investor

    2023

Confido is a software company that provides financial operations automation for consumer packaged goods brands.

  • Investor

    2022

Stay Ai develops a retention operating system with resources to support boosting LTV.

Raised $19,100,002.00 from Boulder Food Group ('BFG'), Adam Turner, Telescope Partners, Vanterra Capital, RiverPark Ventures, Watchfire Ventures and Nik Sharma.

  • Investor

    2020

Helaina is a biotechnology company that focuses on advanced nutrition through the replication of functional proteins.

Raised $69,600,000.00 from Heron Rock Fund, Spark Capital, Ingeborg Investments, CF Private Equity, Siam Capital, Avidity Partners, Relish Works, Barrel Ventures and Primary Venture Partners.

  • Investor

    2019

Articles About Nate

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