CPG Founders of Color Prioritize Revenue Over Venture Funding

The report, which analyzed 98 member brands across food, beverage, wellness, and beauty, reveals that nearly a quarter of these companies have achieved revenue-to-capital ratios exceeding 4:1. With 73% of members having raised less than $250,000, the data challenges the industry's historical obsession with massive funding rounds, suggesting that resilience and authentic consumer connection are becoming the primary metrics for long-term viability.

Founding member Jomaree Pinkard noted that these businesses demonstrate how operational discipline can serve as a potent alternative to heavy capital reliance. Since its inception in 2020, the :INCLUDED collective has grown to represent over 800 entrepreneurs, facilitating more than 3,000 retailer introductions and generating $15 million in direct economic value for its members. By providing a structure for knowledge-sharing and trade show access, the organization aims to help founders navigate persistent industry hurdles, including manufacturing logistics and marketing scale. Victoria Ho, another founding member, emphasized that these entrepreneurs are driving innovation by anticipating shifts in consumer demand long before they surface in traditional syndicated market data.