Elizabeth Edwards (H Ventures) - Why Some DNVBs Don't Work On Shelf, Different Customer Insights You Receive in Retail vs. DTC and Demystifying Corporate Venture Capital

My guest today is Elizabeth Edwards, the founder and Managing Partner of H Venture Partners. H Ventures invests in brands that are disrupting billion-dollar categories and changing the way we live our lives. She was an early investor in Peloton , Roots, Freshly to name a few. Previously, Elizabeth was a partner with Maywic Select Investments and West Ventures. We discuss what makes a brand compelling, the mystery of corporate venture capital, and how to increase diversity in the venture and startup ecosystems.

A couple books that inspired Elizabeth are Pretty Good Advice by Leslie Blodgett and Principles by Ray Dalio.

Highly recommend following her on Twitter @eedwards. You can also follow your host, Mike, on Twitter @mikegelb.

Here are a few questions I ask Elizabeth -

1. Let’s start at the beginning. What attracted you to consumer brands?
2. How did H Ventures come together?
3. Alot of VCs talk about the added value that they provide entrepreneurs. At the early stages, what is the biggest added value that an investment partner can bring?
4. Corporate venture capital is sometimes viewed as a dirty word as strategic partners might not be as focused or add as much value. How do you think about the landscape when it comes to corporate venture capital?
5. Walk me through your due diligence process.
6. Has it been hard finding conviction amongst founders during COVID since you have to meet with them remotely?
7. Alot of investors seem to be looking for paths to profitability when they analyze opportunities. How do you think about the balance between growth vs. profitability?
8. You’re the first investor that’s out of Cincinnati that I’ve interviewed. Do you have any advice for companies that might be located in secondary or tertiary markets?
9. What’s one thing that you would change when it came to venture capital?
10. What’s one company that is on your antiportfolio and why did you end up passing?
11. What’s your most recent investment?
12. What’s one piece of advice that you have for founders?