InvestCPG Welcome Dinner: An Evening of Exceptional Food and Real Connection

The night before InvestCPG 2026, we kicked things off the right way.

We hosted an intimate seated dinner that brought together founders, investors, and operators who are serious about building what America eats next. It was a high-signal evening with real conversation, no forced pitches, just people who understand what it actually takes to create products customers love and keep buying.

The menu told the story of First Run with each course coming from companies building the right way, from day one.

Chef Aaron Mizrahi, currently in the First Run Accelerator, prepared tacos using prime cuts from Pat LaFrieda meats paired with his new line of fire-roasted salsas.

Alongside wine pairings from Global Wines, we served Just Ice Tea and WTRMLN WTR, two of our portfolio brands that are great examples of a products built on customer obsession.

Dessert came from Yala, a company making ice cream hand-crafted with farm-fresh milk, A2 dairy, and premium ingredients sourced from Greece.

Nights like this are exactly why we built First Run. We meet strong founders early, help them validate products built on customer obsession, and back the ones that prove they can scale. The best brands aren’t discovered at Series A. They’re built shelf by shelf with operators who stay close to the customer.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and to the chefs and teams who made the night special. Nights like this are exactly why we exist: to find builders early, support them as they develop real products, and help the best ones scale.