Investments
53Portfolio Exits
23Funds
9Partners & Customers
3Service Providers
1About VMG Partners
VMG Partners is focused solely on partnering with entrepreneurs and managers to support the growth and strategic development of branded consumer products companies in the lower middle market. The firm targets industries in food, beverage, wellness, pet products, personal care, and household products brands. The firm was founded in 2005 and is based in San Francisco, California.
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Expert Collections containing VMG Partners
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Find VMG Partners in 1 Expert Collection, including Food & Beverage .
Food & Beverage
123 items
Latest VMG Partners News
Jun 23, 2023
The Fifteen Percent Pledge was launched three years ago by creative director, activist and fashion designer Aurora James to urge major retailers and corporations to commit 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses. Since then, more than 625 Black-owned businesses have developed business relationships with 29 companies across three countries that have taken the pledge such as Ulta, Sephora, Vogue, Macy’s and Old Navy . Now, to mark its third anniversary, the Pledge has set its sights even higher, with hopes of Black entrepreneurs driving $1.4 trillion of wealth generation by 2030, increasing Black business representation by 14.6%. She has also partnered with private equity firm VMG Partners to launch a new venture capital fund for Black founders. Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, many were underwhelmed by corporations’ pledges for diversity and their anti-racist donations. James was included in this group and went to her Instagram to share her frustration and call out to the world’s largest retail brands. Tagging the brands in her post, she wrote “Here is one thing you can do for us.” “I am asking you to commit to buying 15% of your products from Black owned businesses… we represent 15% of the population and we need to represent 15% of your shelf space.” s Her message did not go unseen and was shared across the Internet, which saw her interviewed on CNN that same week. The request turned from an Instagram post into a racial and economic justice nonprofit organization and a global movement, now known as the Fifteen Percent Pledge. “It’s really about continuing to build on what we’ve already started and taking it to the next level,” said James . “There’s been so much progress made, but there’s still work to do.” Launching A Fund for Black founders Following this, on Juneteenth this year, James launched the Friends and Family Collective . In partnership with private equity firm VMG Partners, the collective hopes to tap into an $850 million VC fund, focusing on founders of Black-owned businesses. Last year, only 1 % of all venture capital went to Black-owned companies. “People in private equity and venture capital are making bets on founders that they feel are going to be successful. But there’s a lot of unconscious bias in that process,” James told Fast Company . “If Mark Zuckerberg or Larry Page is their archetype of a successful founder, where does a Black founder fit in?” James is now focused on finding businesses that already have a proven track record, but are at a point when they are ready for some growth.
VMG Partners Investments
53 Investments
VMG Partners has made 53 investments. Their latest investment was in Rinsed as part of their Series B on April 4, 2023.
VMG Partners Investments Activity
Date | Round | Company | Amount | New? | Co-Investors | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4/25/2023 | Series B | Rinsed | $20M | Yes | 5 | |
4/4/2023 | Seed VC | Treat | Yes | 1 | ||
2/28/2023 | Series A - II | Mantra Health | $5M | No | 7 | |
9/29/2022 | Series A - II | |||||
8/10/2022 | Series C |
Date | 4/25/2023 | 4/4/2023 | 2/28/2023 | 9/29/2022 | 8/10/2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Series B | Seed VC | Series A - II | Series A - II | Series C |
Company | Rinsed | Treat | Mantra Health | ||
Amount | $20M | $5M | |||
New? | Yes | Yes | No | ||
Co-Investors | |||||
Sources | 5 | 1 | 7 |
VMG Partners Portfolio Exits
23 Portfolio Exits
VMG Partners has 23 portfolio exits. Their latest portfolio exit was The Pill Club on June 13, 2023.
Date | Exit | Companies | Valuation Valuations are submitted by companies, mined from state filings or news, provided by VentureSource, or based on a comparables valuation model. | Acquirer | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6/13/2023 | Asset Sale | 5 | |||
4/20/2023 | Acq - Fin | 2 | |||
4/29/2022 | Acquired | 1 | |||
Date | 6/13/2023 | 4/20/2023 | 4/29/2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exit | Asset Sale | Acq - Fin | Acquired | ||
Companies | |||||
Valuation | |||||
Acquirer | |||||
Sources | 5 | 2 | 1 |
VMG Partners Acquisitions
7 Acquisitions
VMG Partners acquired 7 companies. Their latest acquisition was Quest Nutrition on May 09, 2015.
Date | Investment Stage | Companies | Valuation Valuations are submitted by companies, mined from state filings or news, provided by VentureSource, or based on a comparables valuation model. | Total Funding | Note | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5/9/2015 | Acq - Fin | 1 | ||||
12/4/2013 | ||||||
11/1/2011 | ||||||
11/18/2008 | ||||||
1/1/2008 | Other |
Date | 5/9/2015 | 12/4/2013 | 11/1/2011 | 11/18/2008 | 1/1/2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Investment Stage | Other | ||||
Companies | |||||
Valuation | |||||
Total Funding | |||||
Note | Acq - Fin | ||||
Sources | 1 |
VMG Partners Fund History
9 Fund Histories
VMG Partners has 9 funds, including VMG Partners V.
Closing Date | Fund | Fund Type | Status | Amount | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3/4/2021 | VMG Partners V | $871.2M | 2 | ||
7/24/2019 | VMG Catalyst I | ||||
7/28/2017 | VMG Partners IV | ||||
7/11/2017 | VMG Equity Partners IV | ||||
7/11/2017 | VMG Coinvestment Fund II |
Closing Date | 3/4/2021 | 7/24/2019 | 7/28/2017 | 7/11/2017 | 7/11/2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fund | VMG Partners V | VMG Catalyst I | VMG Partners IV | VMG Equity Partners IV | VMG Coinvestment Fund II |
Fund Type | |||||
Status | |||||
Amount | $871.2M | ||||
Sources | 2 |
VMG Partners Partners & Customers
3 Partners and customers
VMG Partners has 3 strategic partners and customers. VMG Partners recently partnered with Ancient Nutrition on January 1, 2019.
Date | Type | Business Partner | Country | News Snippet | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1/14/2019 | Partner | United States | Shearson 's relationship with Ancient Nutrition began as a part of the company 's Ancient Pioneer investor network created through a partnership with VMG Partners . | 2 | |
10/30/2018 | Partner | ||||
9/18/2018 | Partner |
Date | 1/14/2019 | 10/30/2018 | 9/18/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
Type | Partner | Partner | Partner |
Business Partner | |||
Country | United States | ||
News Snippet | Shearson 's relationship with Ancient Nutrition began as a part of the company 's Ancient Pioneer investor network created through a partnership with VMG Partners . | ||
Sources | 2 |
VMG Partners Service Providers
1 Service Provider
VMG Partners has 1 service provider relationship
Service Provider | Associated Rounds | Provider Type | Service Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Counsel |
Service Provider | |
|---|---|
Associated Rounds | |
Provider Type | Counsel |
Service Type |
Partnership data by VentureSource
VMG Partners Team
13 Team Members
VMG Partners has 13 team members, including current Founder, Managing Director, David G. Baram.
Name | Work History | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
David G. Baram | Founder, Managing Director | Current | |
Name | David G. Baram | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Work History | |||||
Title | Founder, Managing Director | ||||
Status | Current |
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