BS

Brian Spaly

North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago

Description

Brian Spaly is a distinguished figure in the consumer brand investment landscape, serving as the General Partner of Brand Foundry Ventures and Executive Chairman of Tecovas. His extensive operational background, notably as the former CEO of Trunk Club, provides him with a unique founder-centric perspective that is highly valued by portfolio companies. Brand Foundry Ventures, under his leadership, has established itself as a dedicated early-stage venture capital firm with a sharp focus on disruptive consumer brands across various sectors.

Brand Foundry Ventures primarily targets pre-seed, seed, and Series A stage companies, providing crucial capital and strategic guidance during their formative years. The firm has demonstrated significant growth in its investment capacity, evidenced by the successful closing of Brand Foundry Ventures Fund II at $30 million in 2016, followed by Fund III, which secured $50 million in 2019. This expansion allows the firm to support a broader range of early-stage consumer businesses and participate more substantially in follow-on rounds.

Historically, Brand Foundry Ventures has aimed to write initial checks ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, as reported for its Fund II. While the firm's scope has expanded to include Series A participation with its larger Fund III, this initial range provides insight into their typical entry point for new investments. Spaly and his team are known for leveraging their deep industry expertise and operational experience to help founders navigate challenges, scale operations, and build enduring brands. The firm's portfolio is robust, with over 110 investments and 13 reported exits, underscoring their active role and success in the consumer venture space.

This approach, combining strategic capital with hands-on operational support, positions Brian Spaly and Brand Foundry Ventures as a key partner for emerging consumer companies seeking not just funding, but also invaluable mentorship and market insights. His track record as a founder and CEO, coupled with the firm's dedicated focus, makes them a compelling choice for entrepreneurs in the consumer sector.

Investor Profile

Brian Spaly has backed more than 31 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 5 rounds, about 16% of its total and boasts 9 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Angel rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States.
  • Strong thematic focus on E-Commerce, Fashion, Retail.
  • Typical check size: $250K – $1M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (61%)
  • Series A (16%)
  • Angel (6%)
  • Series Unknown (6%)
  • Debt Financing (3%)
  • Pre Seed (3%)
  • Series B (3%)

Country Focus

  • United States (100%)

Industry Focus

  • E-commerce
  • Fashion
  • Retail
  • Shoes
  • Lifestyle
  • Consumer Goods
  • Retail Technology
  • Marketplace
  • Software
  • Mobile Apps
circle-line
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Brian Spaly frequently co-invest with?

Lakewest Venture Partners
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Co-Investments: 3
Finn Capital Partners
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 3
Chicago Ventures
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Co-Investments: 5
Bridge Investments
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Co-Investments: 2
Upfront Ventures
North America, California, United States, Santa Monica
Co-Investments: 3
Maveron
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
FireStarter Fund
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Co-Investments: 3
Greycroft
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 4
Brand Foundry Ventures
North America, Texas, United States, Austin
Co-Investments: 4
Pritzker Group Venture Capital
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does Brian Spaly often collaborate with?

Dennis Phelps
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 2
CW
North America, California, United States, Beverly Hills
Shared Deals: 1
David Blitzer
North America, Pennsylvania, United States, Philadelphia
Shared Deals: 1
EG
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Shared Deals: 2
LC
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Shared Deals: 2
AL
North America, California, United States
Shared Deals: 1
PH
North America, Texas, United States, Austin
Shared Deals: 2
Binh Tran
Asia, NA - Vietnam, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City
Shared Deals: 2
AD
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 3
BH
North America, Texas, United States, Austin
Shared Deals: 2

What are some of recent deals done by Brian Spaly?

Cake

Inglewood, California, United States

Cake offers tailor-made products for the bedroom, inspired by real couples, and designed for specific types of play.

E-CommerceSex IndustryWellness
SeedJun 16, 2020
Amount Raised: $1,400,000
Crown Affair

New York, New York, United States

Crown Affair is a haircare brand that helps individuals develop a healthy hair care routine.

BeautyConsumer GoodsPersonal Health
SeedJan 28, 2020
Amount Raised: $1,700,000
Cann

Oakland, California, United States

Cann is a provider of low dose tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) beverage used to offer all-natural flavor drinks.

BrewingFood and BeverageHealth CareRetail
SeedJan 21, 2020
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
Prefix

Austin, Texas, United States

PreFix enables you to stop spending time worrying about your home and save 30-50% off annual maintenance costs.

Building MaintenanceInformation ServicesSmart Home
SeedOct 2, 2019
Amount Raised: $2,700,000
BABOON TO THE MOON

New York, New York, United States

BABOON is a manufacturing that provides highest-grade materials for adventure essentials.

E-CommerceFashionLeisureLifestyleManufacturing
AngelJun 24, 2019
Amount Raised: $2,900,000
Tso Chinese Takeout & Delivery

Austin, Texas, United States

Chinese-American restaurant running on a custom built vertically streamlined e-commerce, kitchen and delivery management platform

CateringCookingDeliveryE-CommerceFood and BeverageFood DeliveryRestaurantsSame Day DeliverySoftware
Pre SeedMay 26, 2019
Amount Raised: $2,200,000
Made In Cookware

Austin, Texas, United States

Made In Cookware is a premium cookware brand creating inspiring tools for the modern cook.

Consumer Goods
SeedApr 3, 2019
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
BriteCo

Evanston, Illinois, United States

BriteCo is an Evanston, IL-based insurtech startup.

InsuranceInsurTechJewelry
SeedMar 20, 2019
Amount Raised: $2,000,000
Unchained

Austin, Texas, United States

Securely take control of your bitcoin with our cold storage vaults and get access to our suite of integrated financial services.

BitcoinBlockchainCryptocurrencyFinancial ServicesFinTech
SeedJun 6, 2018
Amount Raised: $3,000,000
Hunt Club

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Hunt Club is a talent company that leans on subject matter experts to help clients find their next hire.

RecruitingSocial RecruitingStaffing Agency
Series UnknownApr 5, 2018
Amount Raised: $1,800,000