Overheard: Where Venture Meets Culture

Meatless Monday is no longer satisfying the conscious eater's craving for sustainable food. As plant-based alternatives fill our stomachs, our menus, and our grocery aisles, startups like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger face off against legacy food conglomerates like Tyson and Smithfield. Listen in as Jo sits down to a plant-based lunch with Brentos and Jeff to explore the sustainable food movement, one Impossible Whopper at a time.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Brentos Fernandez and Jeff Cantalupo

\\ Ad \\
In 2016, the demand for fresh food had grown into a $25B market. Grocery shoppers wanted more and consistent options for fresh food. So what if you could bring fresh ingredients to the grocery aisle? Field and Farmer is dedicated to just that, as well as transparency, innovation, and clean eating. With juices, salad dressings, and dips, Field and Farmer offers products that can be found in over 500 stores across the Midwest. Go to fieldandfarmer.co to check out some of their tasty offerings.

Follow Us
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter

Dry January or Dry 2020? With the Non-Alcoholic trend sweeping through, there are more and more people opting for an alternative to the social pastime. But what does "being sober" even mean? Listen in as the squad talks about companies that are showing up in the space and what they will need to do to win as a brand, the pressures that come with claiming to be sober and the new generation of non-drinkers. Just in time to wrap up your month of resolutions.

Host: Joelle Cosmas
Guests: Rick Desai and Ryan Sievert

\\ Ad \\
Get prepared with Factor. Their fresh, chef-made meals take the time and guesswork out of eating healthy. Whether you're on the go or simply looking to add more nutrition to your lifestyle, Factor is here to introduce you to ingredients with integrity. Check out the menu and subscribe at Factor75.com

Scooters, bikes, and hoverboards - OH MY! There are endless options to get around but that means there are even more reasons we need to be safe in this new world of individual mobility. In most cities and urban areas, it's never been easier to walk out your door and get to where you need to be - what are you doing to keep yourself safe? Is safety brandable or does that take away from the seriousness? There are numerous reasons to invest in products that saves lives, but what happens when product also happens to tap into fashion.

\\ Ad \\
Everyone deserves a good mortgage and Own Up Is here to make sure of that. Work with a team that has your best interest in min. Whether you're looking for the right mortgage or looking to refinance, get the process started at Ownup.com.

It's official: we are living in the era of digital fitness. Long gone are the days of aimless jaunts to the gym, lurking around treadmills, clueless about how to use the weight machine. With access to apps and expert trainers, an increasing number for people are swiping into fitness apps that guide them through endless workout options.

Check out Factor for performance driven, healthy meals that help you thrive at any level. Each meal is designed by dietitians and created by world class chefs, giving you the fuel needed to perform on the field, in the office, or just at home. Go to factor75.com and subscribe.  

When stigma surrounds a topic or category, there are a tension that exists to help build brand that can make a difference. Listen saw this in 2012 around mental health. A topic, often brushed under the rug, began to see a movement in culture. An opportunity emerged for a brand to take a fresh perspective, bring people and culture into the conversation, remove the stigma and provide solutions. The brand was Calm, a nascent idea in 2012 that recently became the firstMental Health Unicorn. Mental health is now a serious priority among consumers and therein lies a behavioral shift that we thought would be interesting to dive into.

Check out Public Goods for your one stop shop to all things healthy and affordable!
See what they're all about on Instagram and shop their products on their website.

Over the past couple years, Cannabis has exponentially grown to one of the hottest new markets. In 2018, the US passed the Farm Bill. CBD products are no being sold in Walgreens; Luxury retailer Barney’s launched the High End, and Illinois was most recently the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis. With a rapidly declining stigma around cannabis, Listen saw an opportunity to invest in the new market and steer the conversation with a trusted brand voice in this emerging category. 

Check out Miss Grass for a cannabis brand of the times. 

See what they're up to on Instagram and shop your daily dose on their website! 

At Listen, we back and build the brands of tomorrow. In order to make investments in the visionary entrepreneurs of tomorrow, we are constantly talking to each other and listening. We get that consumers look for brands that reflect their values, inspire commerce, and invite participation. Take a listen at how and why we partner with entrepreneurs to unlock the most meaningful expression of their brand and work to answer the top of mind question at HQ - What if brands listened more?