Rihanna and H.E.R are using their platforms to invest in Black women-led businesses.
The entertainers are two of the latest investors to support the allergy-friendly food brand Partake Foods, which is also backed by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter’s Venture Capital Fund Marcy Venture Partners. Last week, the company announced that it successfully completed its Series A round of financing, securing $4.8 million in funding.
Denise Woodard is the founder and CEO of Partake Foods, which specializes in healthy, vegan cookies, while also creating more opportunities for minorities in the food industry. She is recognized as the first woman of color to ever raise one million dollars for a food startup after Carter’s venture fund first teamed up with the brand.
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Black female founded snack brand aims for the stars with major cash boost from multi Grammy Award winner Rihanna By Gill Hyslop Partake Snacks has capped an ‘exceptional year’ with a $4.8 million series A funding round, led by Robyn Rihanna Fenty with her first investment beyond personal ventures.
To date, more than 50% of Partake Foods’ total $7.5 million in funding has come from big names in the music industry, including Jay-Z’s VC fund, Marcy Venture Partners, and another Grammy Award-winner, H.E.R.
Partake was founded by Denise Woodard to create suitable snacks for her young daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. More than one in 13 American kids are allergic to one of the top 8 allergens (wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, soy, fish and shellfish), according to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), with Black children being at a significantly higher risk.
Partake attracts $4.8m investment and announces plans to enter 2,700+ stores in Q1 2021 Allergy-friendly food company Partake has completed a $4.8m Series A funding round backed by a diverse and star-powered lineup of investors from private equity investment firm CircleUp Growth Partners to Rihanna and Seattle Seahawks Bobby Wagner.
Other investors in the financing round include Marcy Venture Partners (co-founded by Jay Z), FF2032, Kevin Johnson s Black Capital, Black Star Fund, and CEO of Once Upon a Farm John Foraker.
Chuck Muth, chief growth officer of Beyond Meat and current investor in the growing brand, will be joining Partake’s board, along with Aditi Dash, partner at CircleUp Growth Partners.
Dive Brief:
Partake Foods closed a $4.8 million Series A funding round with participation from CircleUp Growth Partners, Jay-Z s Marcy Venture Partners (MVP), Lotus Bakeries’ corporate venture fund FF2032, Black Capital, Black Star Fund, Once Upon a Farm CEO John Foraker, Seattle Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner and recording artist Rihanna. CircleUp partner Aditi Dash and Beyond Meat Chief Growth Officer Chuck Muth, a current investor, will join the board.
In a blog post on the funding announcement, Dash cited Partake s omnichannel appeal, including its online traffic growth and social following. The cookie company also expanded from 200 to 2,700 stores in 2020, and plans to grow to 5,500 outlets by the end of the first quarter of 2021. Retail partners include Target, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts and The Fresh Market.