Encore: Why Access to Capital is Critical - Round 2 with Michael Movitz

Encore: Today I’m welcoming back Michael Movitz, of the Movitz group, and co- founding partner of Brandjectory, a one-of-a-kind relationship-building platform for early-stage CPG founders and investors to help discover each other. We last spoke in October of 2020, so we have plenty to hear about Brandjectory and its journey since then.

Michael's career includes 16 years with SPINS at various senior-level positions in the Natural, Organic, and Speciality Products Industry, and in the Natural Products Division of the J.M. Smucker Company.  He is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Movitz Group, an advisory group of industry experts that help early-stage conscious brands raise capital and build go-to-market strategies. He has spent 30 years in the CPG industry working with conscious and premium products.

In this episode you’ll hear how Brandjectory works today vs. when it began, some highlights of Brandjectory’s recent history including functioning as the contest platform for the Naturally New York Slam Pitch, and some general insight into the industry as it stands today.

The “NexxtLevel Brands Podcast’ is hosted by G. Steven Cleere, Founder and “Chief Pot Stirrer” of NexxtLevel Brands. This show focuses on disruptors and thought-leaders from the Entrepreneurial Food, Beverage, and CPG Industry, but we also share tips from veterans and key suppliers that may help fellow CPG professionals achieve their goals.

Discussion Points

• Michael was last on the podcast in October of 2020
• How Brandjectory works
• The process - everything CPG all together at BrandJectory - investors are matched with brands on a “dating service” type of match maker
• Business today vs original business plan - getting great value from virtual interactions/meetings
• This year’s slam pitch -the Spring 2022 Naturally New York slam pitch details
• The current state of CPG capital raising - Investors are holding back because of uncertainty, more strict and rigid, requiring a clear “path to profitability”
• Canada’s new labeling requirements are highlighting anything over the recommended daily allowance
• Sustainability - Organic was the thing for the last 20 years, and the next 20 are going to be about sustainability- carbon, food waste, social/animal welfare, environmental welfare, recycling/reducing, etc.
• In a survey of 5-6-year-old kids, 85% want to ‘save the world’
• Acquisitions of smaller brands by the giants - how and why it sometimes doesn't work
• “Better for you” products currently only comprise 15-30% of the market, real change will come when it’s made bigger inroads
• Diluting founders’ equity/ raising capital from investors - striking a balance is not easy
• Retailers are beginning to understand the cash flow needs of suppliers
• Words to grow by: “There are seven days in the week, and ‘someday’ isn’t one of them”

Resources:

Michael Movitz on LinkedIn

Brandjectory Website

NexxtLevel Brands Website

G.Steven Cleere LinkedIn