Taste Radio

Ignite20 isn’t just cutting checks. The new $7 million venture capital fund and hybrid accelerator is lighting a fire under the next wave of CPG innovators. Launched in February 2025, Ignite20 was born out of the Redwood Ventures Group and is also backed by early-stage VC firm Santatera Capital and food distributor RPM Food. Over the next three years, the fund will invest in 60 early-stage startups across the health, beauty, food, beverage, and pet care industries – targeting 20 promising brands per year. Each selected company will receive a $50,000 capital investment, along with hands-on support from a  network of operators, investors, and retail buyers. Through tactical mentorship, operational strategy, and founder-focused development, the program is designed to help brands grow sustainably and strategically. In this episode, we sit down with Gabriela Morales, Ignite20’s co-founder and managing director, who shares how the fund is rethinking early-stage investing, the reason why margins matter more than pri