Trail Post Ventures

Trail Post Ventures is a consumer-focused venture capital firm founded in 2017 and based in Sausalito, California. The firm is dedicated to partnering with the next generation of exceptional consumer brands, concentrating on sectors such as specialty retail, restaurants, food products, beverages, beauty and personal care. Trail Post typically invests in US companies that are already generating roughly $1 to $30 million in annual revenue and have demonstrated proof of concept, backing brands it believes have the potential to disrupt their categories. Initial cheques generally fall between about $500,000 and $3 million, with some sources citing a $250,000 to $2 million initial range, and additional capital is reserved for follow-on investment; the firm participates across Seed, Series A and Series B financing rounds, typically as a co-investor. Rather than acting as a passive investor, Trail Post takes an active, hands-on approach, leveraging an industry network and advisors with years of experience across finance, marketing and operations to help build strong brands and prepare businesses for the next stage of growth. The firm was co-founded by Nick Mindel and Will Schmitt. Mindel previously worked on the consumer investment banking team at Piper Jaffray, focusing on restaurant and food and beverage transactions, while Schmitt was a Principal at consumer growth equity firm Beechwood Capital. Notable portfolio companies include Naadam Cashmere, Rumpl, JuneShine, Sweetfin and Nutpods. By focusing exclusively on revenue-generating consumer brands and pairing capital with operating and marketing expertise, Trail Post Ventures backs the next generation of category-disrupting consumer companies.