A-Frame Venture Studio

Background

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in San Diego, California, A-Frame Venture Studio (AFVS) is a venture capital firm dedicated to fostering human connection, well-being, and holistic health. The studio's mission is to build brands that create triple-bottom-line impact, emphasizing social, environmental, and financial returns. By integrating human-centered design principles, AFVS aims to develop ventures that not only achieve commercial success but also contribute positively to society and the environment.

Key Strategic Focus

AFVS specializes in creating and co-building brands that strengthen human connections and promote comprehensive health, encompassing physical, emotional, mental, and community well-being. The studio employs a venture playbook derived from collective experiences in building, launching, and exiting ventures, guiding processes from inception to exit. AFVS targets markets that value sustainability, social impact, and innovative health solutions, aiming to develop initiatives that foster healthier communities.

Financials and Funding

As of now, specific details regarding AFVS's funding history, total funds raised, and notable investors are not publicly disclosed. The studio's financial strategy focuses on investing in ventures that align with its mission of creating triple-bottom-line impact, ensuring that capital utilization supports both financial returns and positive societal contributions.

Pipeline Development

AFVS's portfolio includes ventures like Mirth, a brand committed to improving emotional well-being through products such as hydrating sparkling juices made with water, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and 100% organic fruit juice. Mirth's Theory of Change emphasizes promoting outdoor activities, mindful nourishment, and providing tools for self-expression to strengthen emotional health and community resilience. The brand utilizes the Green Master Program for early impact measurement and the BCorp assessment for social and environmental impact planning.

Technological Platform and Innovation

AFVS distinguishes itself through a comprehensive venture playbook that guides the development of brands from inception to exit. This playbook includes strategic partnerships that provide the studio with significant competitive advantages. The studio employs human-centered design principles, ensuring that products and services are developed with a deep understanding of user needs and experiences. Additionally, AFVS integrates sustainability and BCorp standards into its practices, emphasizing social and environmental responsibility from the outset.

Leadership Team

AFVS is led by a diverse team of experienced professionals:

Bradley Harris, Principal: A seasoned entrepreneur and startup advisor with a track record of founding three companies. Brad has expertise in go-to-market strategies, marketing, brand management, operations, and technology. He has played key roles in rebuilding brands like Mirth Water and has experience with companies such as New Balance, Expedia, Peloton, and Molekule. Brad successfully exited his previous consumer brand, Good Wave, after scaling internationally.

Amber Brandner, Principal: Amber guides individuals and organizations toward excellence through authentic interaction and grounded optimism. She focuses on engaging people in strategic and creative processes, fostering inclusive environments within organizations, experiences, or products. Amber's approach is rooted in humanity-centered design principles, with leadership experiences at TEDx, the National Science Foundation, World Economic Forum Global Shapers, and Singularity University. She serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of California San Diego and is a founding advisory board member at the Center for Applied Ethics and Values in Emerging Technology at UCSC.

Luke Tobin, Principal and Investor: Luke is a dynamic entrepreneur and accomplished business leader with a proven track record across multiple industries. As a three-time exited founder, he has demonstrated his ability to build and scale businesses effectively. Luke founded Digital Ethos, the UK's fastest-growing marketing agency, which expanded into Canada, Germany, and the US. In late 2022, he successfully sold Digital Ethos to South America's largest independent agency group. Recognized for his leadership and innovation, Luke has been named one of the UK's most up-and-coming leaders, winning the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2020 and being featured in The Times' "Ones to Watch" list in 2023. He is the driving force behind Tobin Capital, a venture capital firm reshaping the traditional VC model with a fresh, innovative approach to investing. Tobin Capital's investment portfolio includes notable brands such as SpaceX, Earthly, and THIS.

The leadership team is supported by resident advisors with diverse expertise:

Marco Torres, AFVS Resident Advisor: A seasoned professional in Industrial Design with two decades of experience, Marco is the Founder of MT Design Studios, leading innovative business strategies and product creation with a focus on sustainable practices.

Samantha Perry, AFVS Resident Advisor: With experience at various ad agencies and studios, including Wieden & Kennedy, Samantha has worked on brands like Old Spice, Vital Proteins, TurboTax, Jack Link’s, Conagra Brands, and Subaru. She is now working with Olympian and author Alexi Pappas on a lifestyle brand and film studio.

Nick Stoner, AFVS Resident Advisor: With over a decade in advertising, Nick's work includes projects for Clash of Clans, which won two Grand Prix at Cannes, and collaborations with Alex Prager at DDB, helping LACMA reopen during the pandemic. He has over 100 international advertising awards.

Joel Bravette, AFVS Resident Advisor: A founder of his own design agency, trustee of the Vegan Society, speaker at the World Economic Forum, communications director at the Africa Centre, and a broadcaster for the BBC, Joel leads storytelling across AFVS's portfolio.

Heidi Rataj, AFVS Resident Advisor: Program director at UCSD Health Innovation Lab, Heidi leads teams in the research and design of human-centered healthcare innovations, drawing on a background in storytelling, production, marketing, and human understanding.

Chris McKleroy, AFVS Resident Advisor: CEO and Founder at Nocs Provisions, reinventing binoculars to be more accessible.

Kurt Baehmann, AFVS Resident Advisor: With a background in marketing and operations, Kurt was previously the Sustainability Manager for one of the nation's largest grocery co-ops. He created Forward Outdoor as an online resource for sustainability information for the outdoor consumer.

Mike Spear, AFVS Resident Advisor: A social entrepreneur, content creator, and social impact strategist, Mike is the host and producer of the Cause & Purpose Podcast and founder of Altruous.org, an impact discovery, funding, and management platform for the next generation of philanthropists.

Cameron Nazemi, Resident Advisor: A developer and innovator, Cameron is the founder of Tappy, an app dedicated to solving real-world challenges through technology, with over 800,000 downloads and a 4.8/5-star rating.

Sabatina de Freitas, Operational Manager: With 8 years of experience in digital marketing, project management, and operations, Sabatina has led high-impact projects for local and international brands, specializing in digital strategy and operational implementation.

Leadership Changes

As of now, there are no publicly disclosed significant changes or appointments within AFVS's leadership team. The current leadership structure reflects a diverse and experienced team committed to the studio's mission and strategic objectives.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The venture studio model has experienced significant growth, with over 780 startup studios globally as of 2022. This model, also known as a startup factory or venture builder, focuses on building multiple startup companies in succession, emphasizing parallel entrepreneurship. Venture studios differ from traditional incubators and accelerators by generating business ideas internally and assigning dedicated teams to develop them, often acting as early-stage venture capitalists.

Competitor Analysis

AFVS operates in a competitive landscape alongside several notable venture studios:

Colab: Founded in 2013 and based in Los Angeles, Colab has established over 100 companies with portfolio exits exceeding $2 billion. The studio provides extensive support from ideation to fundraising, collaborating with companies like NoCap, a live-streaming platform for artists.