VMG Catalyst, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, announced on Wednesday that it has closed its Fund II at its target of $400M, bringing the total capital raised to $650M to date. Through this investment lens, the firm has invested in 22 companies across all investment stages.
The roster includes commerce enablement companies such as mobile messaging leader Attentive, ethnic grocery delivery service Weee! Grocery, headless commerce platforms Shogun and Swell, financing provider Ampla, e-commerce analytics platform Daasity, and more.
Also, VMG Catalyst has been actively growing its talent function under the leadership of Talent Partner Brianna Rizzo.
Her team works with portfolio companies to optimise recruiting, foster community and knowledge-sharing among leaders, and facilitate introductions to top brands.
“Our deep understanding of both the voice of the customer and the pain points facing brands and retailers of all sizes allows us to invest with the conviction and speed that we believe is required in today’s fast-moving commerce landscape,” says Carle Stenmark, General Partner at VMG Partners.
He adds, “We’re excited to support the visionary entrepreneurs working to solve these pain points and disrupt how we interact with products and services and how they arrive on shelves.”
Consequently, VMG Catalyst launched its inaugural Commerce Council alongside Fund II, which invests side by side with the Fund and seeks to expand the consumer ecosystem accessible to Fund II’s portfolio companies.
The Commerce Council is comprised of seasoned founders, operators, and digital leaders from a list of consumer brands that includes Athleta, Nike, and SKIMS.
Supports consumer businesses
Founded by Partners Carle Stenmark, Brooke Kiley, and Jeff Truong, VMG Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in technology that supports consumer businesses.
The VC leverages its access to the consumer ecosystem through the VMG Partners franchise, which was founded in 2005
“An innovative software and technically advanced supply chains will be the differentiating factor behind the next generation of iconic brands and retailers,” says the company.
“In just a few years, VMG Catalyst has become a key player in the commerce venture capital space,” says Michael Mauze, General Partner at VMG Partners.
He adds, “We believe the access startups gain the deep network and expertise VMG has built over 17 years investing in consumer businesses provides them with unparalleled industry insights and resources to help them scale. As a result, we see tremendous opportunity at the intersection of retail and technology. We look forward to supporting the Catalyst team as they back more companies focused on powering the next generation of consumer businesses.”
