Consumer VC takes a look into early-stage consumer investing and venture capital. If you are interested in learning about consumer trends, have a b2c business and interested in learning about the fundraising process at the early stage, you have come to the right place.
Mike interviews some of the top venture capitalists in the world that focus on B2C and consumer type companies or have a deep track record investing in these categories such as marketplaces, SaaS, social, CPG and non-tech subscription.
Mike also interviews founders that are building some of the most disruptive consumer facing companies in the world. The conversation usually includes the insight the founder discovered, fundraising strategy, and the pitch.
This podcast also includes bonus episodes. Each bonus episode dives into a particular subject that might not have to due with the fundraise or venture capital, but still would be helpful to founders. For example, a bonus episode on brand strategy or how to construct a board of directors. All bonus episodes will be clearly labeled.
For all episodes, please visit www.theconsumervc.com. For updates, you can follow @mikegelb on Twitter.
Consumer VC takes a look into early-stage consumer investing and venture capital. If you are interested in learning about consumer trends, have a b2c business and interested in learning about the fundraising process at the early stage, you have come to the right place.
Mike interviews some of the top venture capitalists in the world that focus on B2C and consumer type companies or have a deep track record investing in these categories such as marketplaces, SaaS, social, CPG and non-tech subscription.
Mike also interviews founders that are building some of the most disruptive consumer facing companies in the world. The conversation usually includes the insight the founder discovered, fundraising strategy, and the pitch.
This podcast also includes bonus episodes. Each bonus episode dives into a particular subject that might not have to due with the fundraise or venture capital, but still would be helpful to founders. For example, a bonus episode on brand strategy or how to construct a board of directors. All bonus episodes will be clearly labeled.
For all episodes, please visit www.theconsumervc.com. For updates, you can follow @mikegelb on Twitter.
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What does it take to build a truly durable consumer brand in today’s volatile venture environment?
In this episode, Mike sits down with Ezra Galston, Founding Partner of Starting Line, to unpack the shifting dynamics in consumer, marketplaces, and venture capital. Ezra shares why the Midwest VC ecosystem looks different from the coasts, what’s changing in consumer investing post-2021, and how founders can position themselves to raise smarter—not just bigger.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ Why consumer investing still matters (even if VC sentiment has cooled)
✅ The difference between “good” growth and “unsustainable” growth
✅ How geography shapes venture outcomes (and why Chicago is unique)
✅ Why Ezra believes today’s founders must optimize for efficiency over hype
✅ The traps consumer founders fall into when chasing scale too early
✅ What LPs really want from consumer-focused funds right now
✅ How Starting Line is approaching the next generation of consumer brands
✅ Why resilience and margin discipline are the new non-negotiables
👉 If you’re a founder, investor, or operator navigating consumer markets in 2025, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:10 Why Consumer Still Matters in Venture
05:00 Growth vs. Unsustainable Growth
09:20 The Midwest VC Lens vs. The Coasts
14:00 Lessons from Building Starting Line
18:30 Why Scale Too Early Destroys Consumer Startups
23:00 LP Expectations in a Reset Market
27:00 Ezra’s View on the Future of Consumer Brands
32:00 Optimizing for Efficiency in Fundraising
38:00 Why Margins Are the New Moat
42:00 Advice for Founders Raising in 2025
47:00 Ezra’s Recommended Books & Resources
📬 Subscribe for more founder stories & venture insights:👉 The Consumer VC Newsletter - https://www.theconsumervc.com/
Follow Mike Gelb: Twitter / IG / TikTok → @mikegelb / @consumervc
