In this episode, Tara Hyland, a Partner at Main Post Partners, breaks down how growth equity approaches the beauty and personal care sector. She shares how Main Post evaluates brands around the $25M–$35M revenue range, writes $30M to $100M+ equity checks, and looks for repeat purchase behaviors of 2–3 times per year. Tara walks through the Main Post investment in Dr. Dennis Gross — including their June 2020 investment and February 2024 exit — and explains why clinical skincare, omnichannel strategy, and hero replenishable products like peel pads drive long-term value. The conversation also covers TikTok Shop surpassing Sephora in beauty sales, Gen Alpha’s influence on pricing and discovery, the importance of team and systems, and why brands need to be retail-ready before entering Sephora or Ulta.

Chapters

00:00 All Things Beauty: Drew & Tara Kickoff01:37 Who Main Post Partners Really Is04:34 From Cleveland to Investment Banking Roots05:58 Building Beauty Brands with Sephora & Retail Anchor Partners07:18 Defining Proof of Concept – $25–35M Topline Benchmark10:29 Flexible Capital Structures: Minority or Majority Stakes13:41 How Founders Can Keep Control in Beauty Deals21:54 Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare and $450M Shiseido Exit24:51 The Power of Hero Products: Peel Pads That Win28:14 Gen Alpha Buying Habits & TikTok Shop Surpassing Sephora42:30 Professionalizing with Teams and Relentless Innovation53:30 The Risky Road to Launching in Retail Today

In this episode, Drew sits down with Jordan Nathan, Founder & CEO of Caraway, to unpack the financial blueprint behind building a $100M+ profit-first brand. They break down the real numbers driving Caraway’s growth - from achieving first-purchase profitability and maintaining strong margins to leveraging factory payment terms for 3× inventory turns before payment. Jordan shares how disciplined ROAS targets, LTV/CAC efficiency, and long-term financial planning helped scale Caraway sustainably without burning cash. If you’re obsessed with business metrics, capital efficiency, and the economics behind category-defining consumer brands, this is a masterclass in financial discipline and operational excellence.

In this conversation, Drew Fallon and Wayne Wu discuss the evolution of the health and wellness movement, the dynamics of corporate divestitures, and the importance of aligning goals between founders and investors. Wayne shares insights from his 18 years at VMG, emphasizing the significance of consumer demand signals, gross margin discipline, and the need for entrepreneurs to diligently assess potential investment partners. The discussion also touches on the intersection of food, beverage, and beauty industries, as well as the current trends shaping the market.

In this episode, Evan Zhao shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, detailing his experiences with Ravella, a company focused on innovative beauty products and its eventual acquisition. He discusses the importance of intellectual property in consumer products, the challenges of navigating public markets and the significance of brand equity and consumer connection. Evan also introduces his new venture aimed at addressing allergies through innovative solutions, emphasizing the collaborative and supportive nature of the consumer industry.

In this episode, Scott Norton, co-founder of Sir Kensington's, shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the evolution of the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, the intricacies of mergers and acquisitions and the current trends affecting large CPG companies. He reflects on his experience with Unilever, the lessons learned from the acquisition process and the impact of consumer trends on market dynamics. Scott also explores the future outlook for capital markets, the importance of building strong consumer connections and his interest in new opportunities within consumer fintech.

In this episode, Adam Draper discusses his journey as a venture capitalist and his recent investment in Allbirds. He shares insights into the deep tech sector, the challenges faced by consumer brands, and the importance of understanding market dynamics. Draper emphasizes the need for bold marketing strategies and a clear brand identity to succeed in today's competitive landscape. He also reflects on the potential for Allbirds to become a billion-dollar business if it can navigate its current challenges effectively.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Adam Draper and Boost VC02:00 Understanding Deep Tech and Investment Strategies07:31 The Allbirds Investment Decision12:41 Analyzing Allbirds' Market Position and Financials21:46 Challenges and Opportunities for Allbirds30:20 Marketing Strategies and Brand Identity42:24 Future Prospects and Long-term Vision for Allbirds