Dan, Krista, and Ingrid got together in early 2020 to build upon what Dan started in 2009 and expand it into a fund model. With venture dollars increasing, many good companies are being orphaned by their equity and need an alternative path. Krista, having faced relatable obstacles in her founder path, recently published a blog on the experiences that led her to joining Stage as a General Partner.
There’s an expectation in the startup sphere that successful companies raise through the alphabet from Series A to B and on with little friction, hitting funding milestones with each passing year.
Coops & Feathers is a U.S. based pet products company dedicated to improving the lives of animals and their pet parents. The Company offers unique chicken coops and functional accessories, as well as all-natural chicken treats, water additives and treatment sprays under its Healthy Hen product line. Coops & Feathers products can be found in big box retailers, eCommerce channels and major rural lifestyle retailers in North America.
Stage’s playbook is a hybrid model integrating best practices from venture capital, private equity, and the venture studio model for shared services. With five portfolio companies already part of the Fund, early performance has dictated Stage to close Fund I early and begin the process of raising Fund II to scale their unique approach.
We had what I thought was good traction, unique competitive positioning, tech to help us scale, and a strong team. With nearly two years of hindsight, I now know that it’s not that we weren’t good, it’s that we weren’t good enough to raise our Series B.
“The opportunity to join Stage is outstanding,” said Chuck Hellmer, the President of the Company. “With our diverse and unique offerings of goat and cow’s milk cheeses, Stage will bring a new element in growing our brand and presence within local and regional markets.”
“We are excited to be partnering with Stage, a firm with significant experience developing SaaS businesses,” said Brian Tervo, CEO of ThirdChannel. “With their operational expertise and support, we will be able to refocus on providing specialized products and services and growing our market share.”
