GroundForce Capital

We are pleased to announce that PowerPlant is now GroundForce Capital. Our decision to rebrand comes at an incredible inflection point for our firm and funds and we are beyond excited to share this news with you! Please see our press release for more details: https://lnkd.in/gnzVWEvn

The best job isn’t necessarily the highest-paying one. It’s the one that aligns with your mission and values. When you find a role where you truly fit: with the position, the team, and the company – everything flows. As a leader, finding people who “fit” the culture you’re building is critical to your company’s success. That’s just one of the many reasons we’re grateful to have Andre Martin, author of Wrong Fit, Right Fit, as an Operating Advisor. In his book, Andre crystallizes a framework for leaders and team members to evaluate what aligns with their goals, skills, and values. Through intuitive “excursions,” he prompts us to reflect on key questions like: • What kind of environment do I thrive in? • Who are the people I want to surround myself with? • What are my values? At GroundForce Capital, we apply frameworks from Wrong Fit, Right Fit to check in with ourselves as individuals, team members, and leaders. Our ultimate goal? To position everyone on our team to thrive. The more aligned we are with ourselves, the more likely we are to move forward in a unified direction. — Have you read Wrong Fit, Right Fit? We highly recommend it as a tool for finding the next “right” step for yourself, your company, and your culture.

90% of American mothers set out to breastfeed for six months, meeting the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The real-life numbers tell a different story: • 47% of mothers start supplementing with formula earlier than planned • 83% of new parents change to formula to ensure their babies receive adequate nutrition • 70% of mothers stop breastfeeding prior to six months The drop from the 80% of women who actually breastfeed illustrates the reality: it’s difficult to breastfeed. Especially so when the U.S. lags behind other industrialized nations in breastfeeding education, support, and parental leave policies. Without a national statutory paid maternity, paternity, or parental leave policy, mothers often return to work environments that don’t accommodate breastfeeding. An Aeroflow Breastpumps study found that only 47% of women have an adequate “mother’s room” at their workplace. Combine workplace challenges with other common reasons mothers give for ending their breastfeeding journeys sooner than expected: • Difficulties with milk supply • Concerns about the baby’s health or illness/need to take medication • Effort required to pump milk That’s not to mention certain medical conditions, medications, and complications that make formula the only option for many Americans. It’s no wonder the infant formula market presents a burgeoning necessity. Currently a $6 billion industry, the formula market projects to reach $12.3 billion in the next eight years. With growing concerns about safety – from filler ingredients to bacterial outbreaks – and supply issues, many new moms are turning to European brands as safer alternatives. The opportunity to create an American brand that meets European standards presents a massive void in the market. Insert Bobbie, the only U.S. formula fulfilling the EU’s nutritional guidelines. Bobbie’s “European-style” formula checks several critical boxes: • Lactose as the carbohydrate source (no fillers) • Organic and non-GMO • Meets EU standards for DHA • Milk sourced from pasture-raised cows The demand for infant formula is not going away anytime soon. Neither will parents’ desire for safe, nutritious options for their children. Bobbie is dedicated to meeting those needs, driving the demand for cleaner, accessible infant products. Learn more about the evolving U.S. infant formula industry in our latest article: https://lnkd.in/e3K2EsBT

Conscious leadership is more than a buzzy concept for us at GroundForce Capital – it’s the way we work together as a team. Last year, we embarked on a year-long Conscious Leadership journey. Since then, the 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership have become the foundation of our culture. (Here’s your sign to read the book if you haven’t already). As a team, we value personal responsibility, integrity, and the balance between work and play. Going fully remote this summer gave us the chance to put these values into practice. Team members had the opportunity to balance work with travel, quality family time, and personal passions. Now that we’re back together in person, we feel more energized, aligned, and excited to tackle the big goals ahead. And we’re just getting started. This week, we headed to Lake Tahoe for a full-team offsite that truly reflects the 15 Commitments. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and collaborate in person as we continue building momentum. We look forward to sharing our renewed insights when we return!

Wise words from our Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Mark Rampolla: At GroundForce, before we make an investment in a company, we go deep. We want to understand all the intricacies of their supply chain and we expect a company to have taken steps to build resiliency. Social and environmental impacts are not just 'nice to haves'.

GroundForce Capital is gearing up for our annual all-team offsite, and this year, we’re headed to Lake Tahoe, facilitated by our operating advisor, Andre Martin. Each year, we intentionally choose a remote location where we can reflect on progress from the year prior and focus on deep strategic planning for the year ahead. Building a team that grows steadily and sustainably takes dedicated effort, and our offsite is a key part of that process. We also spend time outdoors, often doing activities like hiking or white-water rafting, to remind ourselves what makes us a team outside the office. A core part of the offsite is taking the time to reintroduce ourselves on a deeper level. We ask everyone to share two important takeaways: 1. Hidden skills they bring to the team 2. What they’re fighting for Everyone has unique strengths, and we need to frequently remind each other of those skills – especially the ones that might be underutilized. Understanding the personal motivations, or the "fight," that drives each of us helps us see why we show up with energy every day. At GroundForce Capital, we believe it’s in our best interest to nurture these qualities so our team can continue doing what they do best. We’re excited to share the insights and takeaways from this offsite when we return. Stay tuned for more updates as we lay the groundwork for an ambitious 2025! – Here’s an action shot from Day 1:

In 2016, new mom Laura Modi was blinded by fluorescent lights in Aisle 3. Wearing her newborn and battling her first bout of mastitis, she sifted through formula labels filled with corn syrup, fillers, and palm oil – ingredients she wouldn't consume herself. “I was exhausted and resentful that I failed at breastfeeding and had to resort to a second-best option, a formula with ingredients I wouldn’t want to consume myself,” Modi told CNN. Through rabbit holes of research, Modi realized that cleaner ingredients were virtually absent from U.S. formula shelves and readily available in the EU. For example: • European formulas mimic the nutritional profile of breast milk with lactose as the carbohydrate source, avoiding other sweeteners common in American formulas. • European formulas are largely organic and non-GMO, not yet common in the U.S. • European formulas also often source from goat’s milk or pasture-raised cows, an option with no FDA equivalent. With nutritional profiles more closely mimicking breast milk and free from sugary ingredients in American formula, consumer preferences toward European formula grew. When Modi’s daughter turned one, she left her role as an Airbnb exec and set out to create a baby formula that mimicked European nutritional profiles. Bobbie, the first European-style formula, was born. Coining the term “European-style” formula, Bobbie meets FDA’s regulatory standards while checking the EFSA boxes: • Lactose as the carbohydrate source • Organic and non-GMO • Meets EU standards for DHA • Milk sourced from pasture-raised cows Taking infant nutrition a step further, Bobbie expanded into pediatric supplements in April 2024. Removing the uncertainties that come with supplement selection, Bobbie offers Vitamin D and Probiotic drops to support immunity and digestion for little ones. Like Bobbie's formula, these products are made without additives or chemicals. The growing demand for cleaner infant products, driven by the needs of new parents and beyond, presents an opportunity that Bobbie is dedicated to pursuing. Learn more about the evolution of infant products in our latest article: https://lnkd.in/e3K2EsBT

Congratulations to the Chameleon Cold-Brew team on this well-deserved recognition! At GroundForce Capital, we’re committed to investing in companies that uphold the quality and integrity that founders have instilled in their brands. Since acquiring Chameleon, SYSTM Foods has prioritized these high standards, ensuring Chameleon’s reputation for excellence remains strong. This recognition is a testament to the value of honoring the long-term vision behind beloved brands. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gaZvyAPi

Sober-curious conversations have taken social media by storm. Transparency from celebrities and influencers about substituting or abstaining from alcohol has been making non-alcoholic alternatives mainstream. One of their main takeaways? Less alcohol has led to more health benefits.(1) To name a few: • 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: Alcohol alters our brain chemistry and can increase stress and anxiety in the long run.(2) • 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽: Cutting back on alcohol could improve REM sleep, combating brain fog. • Improved heart health: Alcohol can disrupt heart health, contributing to high blood pressure, strokes, and cardiac arrhythmia.(3) • 𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: Going alcohol-free enhances the functioning of the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for decision-making and higher-order thinking. • 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺: Reduced alcohol consumption has a marked impact on gut health that contributes to increased immunity. While health is one part of the equation, drinking is a huge part of Western culture, and it isn't going away anytime soon. There’s a demand for something that can replace soft drinks and soda without reverting to alcohol, instead of being persistently asked, “Where’s your drink?” at parties. Low- and non-alcoholic beverages that replicate the flavor, and taste of alcohol give people these inclusive alternatives. Instead of replacing the market for alcohol, the market could be augmented by catering to a group that never had options in the first place. Ted Fleming, the founder of Partake Brewing, was part of this group. Now, a GroundForce Capital portfolio company, Partake crafts award-winning non-alcoholic beers with natural ingredients that are low on calories, too. Similarly, Liquid Death, another GroundForce Capital portfolio company, was marketed as "the healthiest thing you can drink", to concert-goers who were looking to quit drinking. As consumers increasingly prioritize low to no-alcohol beverage benefits, it’s clear this trend is here to stay. Founders and companies that combine brilliant branding with better-for-you beverages can win market share. Learn more about how low- and non-alcoholic beverages are winning market share in our latest article: https://lnkd.in/eEYD7tJK

We are thrilled to welcome Summer Farren to GroundForce Capital as an Associate on our Investment Team! In this role, Summer will be instrumental in supporting our deal team with due diligence, transaction execution, sourcing new opportunities, and collaborating with our portfolio companies to drive growth. Before joining GroundForce Capital, Summer was an Investment Banking Associate at Jefferies in NYC, where she specialized in Beauty and Wellness M&A within the Consumer and Retail Group.