A great product does not automatically make a brand fundable.
Your snack can taste incredible. Your skincare line can have loyal fans. Your beverage can be moving. Your apparel brand can have real heat. But investors may still pass.
This edition of Ugly Talk pulls back the curtain on the consumer brand fundraising process. We’re bringing CPG and DTC investors into the room with a funded founder to unpack the unpolished reality behind what makes a brand investable and what quietly kills the deal.
The conversation will dig into the signals investors actually care about: traction, margins, repeat purchase, category timing, retail readiness, founder-market fit, and the story behind the numbers.
🎯 Why You Should Attend
- Understand how investors evaluate a pitch and a deal.
- Know the quiet red flags that can kill your chances without you realizing it.
- Learn which KPIs and metrics actually matter, and which ones are overhyped.
- Spot narrative gaps that can quietly hurt fundraising outcomes.
🙋 Who's Getting In This Room
- Consumer brand founders across food, beverage, beauty, wellness, apparel, lifestyle, and beyond.
- Venture capital investors looking to invest in CPG and DTC.
- Angel investors who are looking to back early-stage CPG and DTC companies.
🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage
- Investors who actively seek out the next breakthrough brands to invest in
Moderator:
Glenn Johnson - Marketing Consultant/Fractional CMO
Glenn Johnson works with brands, startups, and founders to address their marketing and branding needs. “From 0-1, to pivot and growth, from idea to production, from packaging to sales strategies, key markets and comp set research and who to work with, I craft a plan and a strategy to get it done. I help brands build their business, for me, Ugly Talks is about the story and the lessons.”
A former VP/Creative Director at a Madison Avenue agency specializing in luxury and bespoke audiences, he brings expertise across multiple verticals. As a category-agnostic brand storyteller, he helps founders define their mission, vision and develop their brand business.
💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat
- Why do investors pass on strong products?
- What makes a consumer brand feel fundable?
- How much traction is enough?
- What matters more: revenue, margins, repeat purchase, retail doors, or community?
- When is venture capital the wrong path?
- What red flags quietly kill a deal?
- How should founders talk about the numbers without over-polishing the story?
- What do investors wish more consumer founders understood before pitching?
Who's Backing This
The Yard
Born in Brooklyn, The Yard is a network of thoughtfully designed coworking spaces across New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Chicago. It’s where entrepreneurs, professionals, and creators connect, collaborate, and thrive.
1. Coworking Membership at $189/month (6-month sign-up)
2. Complimentary Day Pass (promo code GREYJ25)
3. 20% Off All Bookings with promo code GREYJ25 (Multi-Day Passes, Day Offices, Meeting Rooms, and more)
Claim Discount
GREY Journal – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
⭐ About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Official Website: UglyTalk.com
Ugly Talk: Why Investors Don't Bet on your Brand
Hosts
Wed, Jul 22, 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM (EDT)
To be shared on approval (New York)
100 attendees
A great product does not automatically make a brand fundable.
Your snack can taste incredible. Your skincare line can have loyal fans. Your beverage can be moving. Your apparel brand can have real heat. But investors may still pass.
This edition of Ugly Talk pulls back the curtain on the consumer brand fundraising process. We’re bringing CPG and DTC investors into the room with a funded founder to unpack the unpolished reality behind what makes a brand investable and what quietly kills the deal.
The conversation will dig into the signals investors actually care about: traction, margins, repeat purchase, category timing, retail readiness, founder-market fit, and the story behind the numbers.
🎯 Why You Should Attend
🙋 Who's Getting In This Room
🎤 Who’s Taking the Stage
Moderator:
Glenn Johnson - Marketing Consultant/Fractional CMO
Glenn Johnson works with brands, startups, and founders to address their marketing and branding needs. “From 0-1, to pivot and growth, from idea to production, from packaging to sales strategies, key markets and comp set research and who to work with, I craft a plan and a strategy to get it done. I help brands build their business, for me, Ugly Talks is about the story and the lessons.”
A former VP/Creative Director at a Madison Avenue agency specializing in luxury and bespoke audiences, he brings expertise across multiple verticals. As a category-agnostic brand storyteller, he helps founders define their mission, vision and develop their brand business.
💬 What We Do Not Sugarcoat
Who's Backing This
The Yard
Born in Brooklyn, The Yard is a network of thoughtfully designed coworking spaces across New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Chicago. It’s where entrepreneurs, professionals, and creators connect, collaborate, and thrive.
1. Coworking Membership at $189/month (6-month sign-up)
2. Complimentary Day Pass (promo code GREYJ25)
3. 20% Off All Bookings with promo code GREYJ25 (Multi-Day Passes, Day Offices, Meeting Rooms, and more)
Claim Discount
GREY Journal – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
⭐ About Ugly Talk:
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Official Website: UglyTalk.com