SWAT EQUITY
Investing in the brands we believed in before the market caught up
Managing Director & Partner. Helped launch SWAT Equity, one of the first early-stage VC funds embedded within a brand strategy agency. Led brand-first diligence and portfolio strategy for a $15M fund, backing breakout consumer brands like Supergoop!, Banza, HATCH, and NAADAM. Combined investor instincts with deep operational and brand-building insight to support founders and accelerate growth.
Launching a Fund Inside an Agency
Born from the entrepreneurial energy of SWAT by Kirshenbaum, SWAT Equity wasn’t just another VC fund. It was an idea ahead of its time—one of the first brand-led investment vehicles inside a creative agency.
The $15M fund focused on high-growth consumer brands with standout narratives, real founder energy, and the potential to lead. As Managing Director and Partner, I evaluated 7–10 companies per month, stress-testing for story, category potential, and brand elasticity.
A Partnership Built on Trust and Speed
I partnered closely with Sarah Foley, one of the sharpest people I’ve worked with and now the Founder of InviNext. Together, we moved fast—meeting a dozen or so startups a month and assessing founder vision, operational readiness, and long-term potential. We shared the similar instincts and the similar energy: bet early, back conviction, and move with purpose.
Beyond Capital
My role went beyond due diligence. I worked directly with founders to help refine brand platforms, clarify positioning, and shape go-to-market strategies. When needed, I advised on key hires or operational moves, acting as both strategist and sounding board.
Our goal wasn’t to chase trends. It was to back entrepreneurs who were ahead of them, and help lay the brand foundation for what was next.
Portfolio Highlights
Our portfolio included now-household names:
Supergoop!, Banza, HATCH, NAADAM, Blackwell Rum, Foodstirs, PetPlate, Powerful Foods, Zeel, and others. Some are now global forces. All had strong identities from the start.
Realization: Brand as Platform
SWAT Equity wasn’t just a sidecar to the agency, it was a glimpse into a model I knew I wanted more of. A portfolio with shared resources. A central vision. A tighter operating system.
It confirmed what I’d always felt: I don’t just want to advise brands. I want to lead systems built to scale them.
Takeaway
Working at founder speed only reinforced what I’ve always believed—the best ideas thrive in environments that move fast, cut through the layers, and support conviction. Big companies bring me in for the same reason: to cut through the noise, create systems that deliver, and make the kind of change you can actually feel.