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We obsess over the values shifts driving consumers and the tech shifts underpinning consumer adoption. The need and potential is clear, and the opportunities are massive.Evolved attitudes and social norms are shaping new demands. Antiquated and fragile systems are begging for reinvention. Ongoing demographic shifts are fueling deep, fundamental needs. The power of technology for progress is more profound and scalable than ever.We live in a society dependent on thoughtful bridging of on-and off-line worlds. Generative AI will unlock a new set of possibilities. Nimble adoption and swift, bold change is the norm. We believe opportunity lies ahead of the trend. In an industry obsessed with trailblazing, we go one step further: We meet the consumer where they’re going. When big thinkers are poised to transform culture, they become more than just founders, or CEOs, or investors, or entrepreneurs. They become Forerunners.Forerunner Advantage Forerunner is a research-focused, thesis-driven venture capital firm that’s dedicated to serving a fast-changing society with complex needs. We believe in walking the walk: early action, high conviction, engaged partnership. Research-focused: We commit ourselves to having a constant pulse on what people are doing and why. This requires both IQ and EQ - we combine data-driven research with an intimate understanding of peoples’ needs. We always show up with a prepared mind. Thesis-driven: We leverage our research to uncover business opportunity and invest in the teams best positioned to reshape categories and help transform culture, such as Faire, Chime, Glossier, Hims&Hers, ŌURA, The Farmer’s Dog, Ritual, and more. And the work doesn’t stop when we invest. Consumer-led: The consumer is our North Star. We invest to support evolving societal needs and further the potential of people. We see technology-driven change as a means to meet the consumer - your user - where they are going. Credibility-building: Working with us is a statement about the company you aim to build. Our focused efforts and decades-long track record of partnering with category-defining companies early have established Forerunner as a true advantage to founders.

The empowered consumer is dramatically reshaping the way successful companies start, grow and scale their brands - driving a consumer renaissance. We are an investment partner for visionaries building exceptional brands at this intersection of commerce + influence. SILAS CAPITAL WAS FORMED to be a unique and ideal investment partner to entrepreneurs building businesses in the rapidly evolving consumer space - providing both growth and venture capital. We invest in visionaries creating the next generation of consumer brands. WE ALIGN OURSELVES with the needs of the entrepreneurs we serve, where flexible capital is the right kind of capital. We invest in ‘emerging’ growth stage consumer brands through Silas Capital - and in venture-stage consumer & enabling tech through Silas Ventures. AS FOUNDERS & INVESTORS we've built thriving consumer companies from scratch and have been consumer investors for 10+ years. Being hands-on, we help companies achieve faster growth and increased profitability by leveraging our own operating experiences and resources. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO AMPLIFY the capabilities and "magic" that entrepreneurs bring - and together create long-term value, superior brand recognition and increased market share - while allowing founders to maintain both creative and shareholder control.

Our approach keeps founders at the heart of everything we do. We areConviction-led: We value independent decision-making and lead all our investments. Long-term partners: We stay fully committed to founders' vision, no matter how long it takes. Sector specialists: We each focus on specific sectors to build a deep, informed point of view that fuels our investment strategy and portfolio support. Transparent: We keep founders in the loop and prioritize honest communication, making us partners they never have to second-guess. Engaged: We believe in staying actively involved through meaningful board participation and functional support. Our journey started like many other startups – in a Bengaluru basement 2016 When we set out to raise our first fund, the Indian VC landscape was shaky at best. Investors were cautious, several foreign VC majors had left the ecosystem, and successful exits were hard to come by. Amidst skepticism about the Indian market, we defiantly believed that the "golden decade" of Indian technology was upon us. We saw an opportunity for VC 2.0 in India – one that was stage-focused, expertise-driven, and committed to prioritizing real growth alongside valuations. Undeterred by a tough fundraising climate, we knocked on 1,200 doors to raise Stellaris’ first fund. These early struggles shaped Stellaris’ culture, allowing us to fully resonate with the fundraising challenges faced by early-stage entrepreneurs. 2017 We launched our first fund of $90 million. From the outset, we established a principle of having specialists on our team, enabling us to tap into deep sector knowledge, spot promising opportunities, and provide tailored support to the companies we backed. Out of our 19 investments in our first fund, 9 surpassed a valuation of $100 million, with several others on track to achieve this milestone. 2021 We closed our second fund of $225M and backed 25 companies, many of which are poised to become the leaders of tomorrow. We also had our first significant exit in the portfolio when 6Sense, a US SaaS company, acquired Slintel, in which Stellaris was the first institutional investor. 2023 Our portfolio company, Mamaearth, which we backed at the Series A stage in 2018, successfully completed its IPO. 2024 We launched our third fund of $300M and are now managing over $600M in assets. We're ready to support the next wave of innovative businesses with the same grit and determination that brought us here.

Founded in 1987, Highland Capital Partners is a venture capital firm focused on putting the entrepreneur first. With offices in Cambridge and Palo Alto, Highland has raised over $3B in committed capital and invested in more than 270 companies, resulting in category-defining businesses across consumer and enterprise technology. Investments include companies such as Rent the Runway, 2U, Catalant, Harry’s, Malwarebytes, nuTonomy, Clearbanc, Scopely, ThredUP, and Turbonomic.

We're in the business of making a difference. One Better Ventures works with exceptional entrepreneurs to unlock potential and build an inspired community to do well and good. We partner with distinctive consumer brands that aim to have a positive impact on the world. We advise and invest in companies who are entering a rapid growth phase. Our track record includes building businesses like Burt’s Bees and Seventh Generation, and leading them to successful exits. Now we are working with innovative ventures like Leesa Sleep, Filter Easy and Disruptive Enterprises as aligned, principled, and patient investors and operating partners. We run One Better Ventures with a deep commitment to service and corporate citizenship in our community, and we donate 10% of our profits to charity. Do well. Do good. Do One Better.

Bluestein Ventures is a leading early-stage venture capital fund investing in the future of food. Our focus is game-changing, early-stage ventures across the food industry that redefine how consumers achieve their health and wellness. Our investments span the entire supply chain – both B2C and B2B – with a focus on four areas: high-growth consumer brands, proprietary foodtech, next-gen commerce, and digital technology. Our target stage is Seed to Series A. We’re active investors, going beyond capital to help our portfolio companies develop, iterate, and implement their go-to-market strategy to achieve product-market fit and set the foundation for scale. Since Bluestein was founded in 2014, we have invested in over 40 companies. Notable investments include Factor, the #1 prepared meal-subscription service that exited to HelloFresh in 2020; FourKites, a freight location intelligence platform for large shippers; Meati, a minimally processed fungi-based alternative protein; and Foxtrot, a new-age convenience store. Other investments include Mori, Vive Organic, New Culture, and Provi.