Brian Folmer is the founder of Firstlook (think Shark Tank in a box to help brands raise money) and Distrobox (think Shark Tank in a box but to help brands find distributors). He joined us on Season 2 of Driving Performance to discuss Firstlook, launching Distrobox, and what makes a brand perfect for each of the boxes. Keep reading to find out how you can get involved in Firstlook!
What is Firstlook? Firstlook is a curated, monthly box of consumer brands selected by Brian that gets sent to a vetted list of investors. To be eligible to receive a Firstlook Box, an investor must be writing a minimum of three $25K checks per month. Investors enjoy subscribing to Firstlook because they can discover and test new brands in the comfort of their own home and on their own time. If an investor likes a brand and wants to learn more about it, Brian will connect the investor and brand founder.
What types of brands get into the Firstlook box? Brian is always looking for unique brands to put in the box. He prioritizes brands that have some traction and are going after a white space in the market. 50% of Firsltook brands are seed stage, 25% pre-seed, and 25% Series A. Brands that have gone through Firstlook include past podcast guests and Adgile clients like Obvi, BelliWelli, Moment, Curie, and more!
Firstlook at a Success Story: Firstlook has many success stories to share but one of Brian’s favorites is the story of NuSkool. NuSkool is a better-for-you protein bar that went through Firstlook. Brian sent the box to Endeavor, a sports & entertainment agency that also connects brands + celebrities, and Endeavor realized NuSkool was the perfect fit for Tim Tebow. Tim joined NuSkool as the Chief Mission Officer in 2022.
Learn more about Firstlook and Brian by tuning into his episode.
