Shows
High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast#111 - How Hemp Beverages Are Rewriting Adult Drinking w/ Jeff Cantalupo of Listen VenturesSend us a textWe explore how hemp-derived THC beverages are redefining adult drinking, why big brands hesitate while startups build, and how “vice wellness” turns ritual into wellness-driven status. Jeff Cantalupo of Listen Ventures shares what gets a VC to yes, how portfolios form, and where retail wins.• consumer demand driving THC beverage mainstream adoption• integration of life lessons into leadership and team communication• news on lawsuits and AG letters shaping risk perception• why incumbents buy innovation and how that opens a window for startups• the vice wellness thesis and behavior shift...
2025-11-0355 min
Overheard: Where Venture Meets Culture27. "Everything I know about brand, I learned from hip-hop"What comes first? Hip-hop or culture. It’s hard to say but there is no doubt that hip-hop artists are incredible story tellers, and we at Listen owe a lot of our truth and inspiration to them. Listen in as JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff dig into their early memories with hip-hop, how artists understand brand, and why being mentioned in a hip-hop song is the ultimate sign that you or your product has officially made it.*This was recorded in February 2022.A word from our portfolio: Whether you’re new to the weed party or you’...
2022-11-0438 min
Consumer VC: Venture Capital I B2C Startups I Commerce | Early-Stage InvestingHow to Build Brands Through Storytelling // Jeff Cantalupo and Brentos Fernandez at Listen VenturesWelcome to The Consumer VC, a newsletter about venture capital and consumer startups delivered straight to your inbox. If you aren’t subscribed, come and subscribe below.🎧 You can also listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast players.Hey Friends,Thank you Erin Grant for pitching this as an episode idea and making it happen. This episode is all about how to build powerful brands through storytelling. To tackle this topic, I’m joined by Jeff Cantalupo who is the founder and General Partner at Listen Ventures and Brento...
2022-04-1131 min
Consumer VC: Venture Capital I B2C Startups I Commerce | Early-Stage Investing I Brands | TechnologyJeff Cantalupo and Brentos Fernandez (Listen Ventures) - How to build compelling brands through the power of storytellingThank you Erin Grant for pitching this as an episode idea and making it happen. This episode is all about storytelling. What does a good story need, what are the mechanics, and how to build a compelling brand through the power of storytelling. To tackle this topic, I’m joined by Brentos Fernandez, Head of Creative at Listen Ventures and Jeff Cantalupo who is the founder and General Partner at Listen Ventures. Listen Ventures. Backs and builds the brands of tomorrow Including Calm, Kiwi Co, Factor, Catch Co, I/D, & Slumberkins. Without further ado, here they are.
How do...
2022-04-1131 min
Startup HustleConcentrated & Creative Investment StrategiesIn this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt DeCoursey and Jeff Cantalupo, Founder and Managing Partner of Listen Ventures talk about concentrated and creative investment strategies.
Listen is a consumer-obsessed venture capital firm focused on backing and building the brands of tomorrow. As of Spring 2022, Listen Ventures manages $130 million across four funds having backed dozens of breakout consumer brands including, Calm, Catch Co, Dame, Factor, Interior Define, and more.
Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:
https://gigb.co/l/YEh5
This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:
https://fu...
2022-03-2549 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture24. “Instacart was inevitable. But when it was Webvan, it wasn’t the right time”If we had a nickel for every time we’ve heard the phrase “timing is everything” we’d have a lot of nickels. Not only is this true for jobs, relationships, life changes… It's also a key ingredient for startups. The best part? You can’t control it. From successes like Uber and Airbnb, to not-so-successes like Webvan and Friendster, JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff dive into how consumer shifts and startup launch timing go hand in hand.A word from our portfolio: Calm is the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation with proven techniques designed to ease your mind or...
2022-01-3139 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture23. "My Instagram feed is showing up in my mailbox”It’s that time of year when all of the things you want for the holidays are ✨ magically ✨ showing up in your feed every other post. And even though we’re all kinda used to our phones listening to us, it’s a little different when you start seeing these products in your snail mail. Listen in as JoJo, Ryan, and Jeff talk about how brands are leaning into direct mail and how Facebook and Apple’s privacy updates are changing up the DTC media mix. You already know, we gush over the famous Sears Christmas catalog from years ago. ...
2021-12-2239 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture21. “The bedroom should only be for sleep and sex”Gone are the days where you just need a bed, pillow, and blanket to sleep. Now, night time routines are more complex and thoughtful than ever with sound machines, customized mattresses, special glasses, and more — creating an industry that’s worth over $80B. JoJo, Ryan, and Jeff lay it all on the bed to dive into sleep health, the brands winning in this space, and what a world would look like if sleep training continued into adulthood.A word from our portfolio: Calm is the #1 app for sleep, meditation and relaxation with proven techniques designed to ease your...
2021-08-1940 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture19. “Creator Houses? I'm waiting for the Creator Village.”You know what they say… do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Whoever said that probably didn’t think that in 2021, 33% of kids between the ages 8-12 would be saying they want to be YouTubers when they grow up. So, it was time to talk about how passions are turning into careers. JoJo, Brentos, and Jeff take a trip down creator economy lane and dive into the ever changing world of content, monetization, and community.A word from our portfolio: Catch Co. is on a mission to rescue people...
2021-06-2939 min
Chicago CapitalS1E11: Jeff Cantalupo @ Listen Ventures on Consumer Investing in 2021, The Consumer Landscape in Chicago, and Building Brands at the Early-StageIn this episode, we covered:The Thesis Behind Listen VenturesHow Jeff Assess Early-Stage BrandsInvesting in Calm, Factor_, and Catch Co."Glass Box Brands"Consumer Investing in 2021Chicago's place in Consumer LandscapeAnd much more.... Please Enjoy!Prior to founding Listen, Jeff spent 10 years in the advertising industry at Leo Burnett where he helped large brands innovate and craft their brand story.Since founding Listen, Jeff has invested in over 20 startups. He looks to provide branding and business strategy for consumer-focused early-stage companies. Jeff invested in one of the most successful consumer tech...
2021-05-0547 min
Demo Day PodcastJeff Cantalupo on The Diversification of Expertise in VC Firms, Listen VenturesIn this episode, Jeff shares his insights on how having a team with different backgrounds and expertise is critical to identifying good consumer investments.Guest - Jeff CantalupoWebsite - www.Listen.co Twitter - @ListenDotCoInstagram - @ListenDotCoEmail - Jeff@Listen.coFollow Us!LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/coefficient-labsInstagram: www.instagram.com/demodaypodcast/Facebook: www.facebook.com/coefficientlabs/Twitter: https://twitter.com/coefficientlabsContact Information:social@coefficientlabs.com
2021-04-2036 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture15. "I'm giving up resolutions this year" with Mike Apostal of FactorIt’s January 28th aka nine days after January 19th aka the day most people are likely to give up on their New Year's Resolution. But in case you missed it, resolutions are out and wellbeing is in. JoJo, Jeff, and Ryan are joined by special guest, Mike Apostal, CEO of Factor, to talk about hitting the reset button, what brands can do to lean in, category shifts, and some of our biggest flops from past new year resolutions. A word from our portfolio: Factor delivers healthy meals to your door that are designed by dietitians and cre...
2021-01-2854 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture14. "How do I prime this election?"Let’s be honest... if we can’t get something delivered in two days with free shipping, is it really worth buying? We all know the answer to that. In a time of next-day delivery and being able to track it at every stage, we’ve grown quite impatient. Add in a presidential election during a global pandemic and tensions are at an all time high. Jo, Jeff, and Brentos break down the instant delivery, rapid results, and instant gratification world we live in. Listen in as we talk about the Amazon effect and how it impacts your relationship with t...
2020-11-3040 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture10. “It’s easy to make it pretty, harder to make it matter”Daily reminder: In a world full of pretty Instagram grids, be a brand that has soul. Good design is table stakes these days, which is why we believe a company’s brand is so much more than aesthetically-pleasing visuals. Listen in as the Brand Dream Team (aka Jo, Jeff, and Brentos) talk through all things brand, not to be confused with branding.Host: Joelle CosmasGuests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Cantalupo\\ Ad \\Imagine a futuristic wonderland designed just for kids. A world where kids can explore and experiment with gadgets and advanced, cu...
2020-06-3040 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture8. "We should call it physical distancing, not social distancing"Can you remember a time before you heard the phrase "social distancing"? As the world adjusts to COVID-19, it's been amazing to see just how social we've been and how we're finding new ways to connect with others. Listen in as Jo, Brentos, and Jeff unpack how this time has changed the way we connect, which brands have a meaningful part in the conversation and some of our predictions for when we'll be able to touch each other again. Host: Joelle CosmasGuests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Cantalupo\\ Ad \\Slumberkins is a...
2020-04-2248 minOverheard: Where Venture Meets Culture7. "I heard Impossible Burgers were sold out at Burger King"Meatless Monday is no longer satisfying the conscious eater's craving for sustainable food. As plant-based alternatives fill our stomachs, our menus, and our grocery aisles, startups like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger face off against legacy food conglomerates like Tyson and Smithfield. Listen in as Jo sits down to a plant-based lunch with Brentos and Jeff to explore the sustainable food movement, one Impossible Whopper at a time.Host: Joelle CosmasGuests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Cantalupo\\ Ad \\In 2016, the demand for fresh food had grown into a $25B market. Grocery shoppers wanted...
2020-02-2040 min
Money IssuesChi Wellness Challenge check-in with Factor75 Founder Mike Apostal and Listen Ventures MD Jeff CantalupoIt's week three of the #ChiWellnessChallenge, a challenge designed to make entrepreneurs and founders take stock of their well-being and pursue a six-week goal to better themselves whether it be focus, eating, exercise, weight loss or sleep. In-studio Scott talks to challenge participants Pete Wilkins, Managing Director of Hyde Park Angels, Mike Apostal, founder of Factor75 and Jeff Cantalupo, Managing Director of Listen Ventures.
2019-05-2235 min