About · Est. 2019
Building the world’s greatest consumer brand investor group
Brian Folmer
Founder / Managing Partner
Brian is the founder of FirstLook, and Managing Partner of FirstLook Ventures. He previously led BD & Strategic Partnerships at XRC Ventures, Global Operations at Victoria’s Secret International, and Inventory Management at Abercrombie & Fitch.
His journey into VC is unique. After graduating from The Ohio State University he joined Bizdom, a technology startup accelerator in his hometown Cleveland, OH. While there he applied to the program as a founder and eventually took an investment to start his first company. From that point he was hooked on all things startups and investing.
Brian is based in Cleveland, a beer league hockey champion, and proud father to two beautiful children. He believes founders are the lifeblood of the economy whose efforts drive innovation, push the world forward, and shape human history.
Building for the top 1% of founders and investors.
“Our mission’s always been to get brands into the right hands so magic can happen.”
2019
Brian leaves XRC Ventures and incorporates FirstLook.
2020
First ever investor boxes ship in June.
2021–2023
Community growth expedited by Covid-19 as their novel investor boxes help bridge the founder/investor gap.
2025
Launch of FirstLook Ventures.
Today
$30M invested across 80 brands between FirstLook and FirstLook Ventures.
Hear it from Brian.
Brian Folmer
Founder / Managing Partner
- Sep 2026HotStart VC Podcast · PodcastWhat a Consumer Investor Actually Looks For in Celebrity BrandsBrian’s checklist for celebrity-founded brands, and how the FirstLook box feeds FirstLook Ventures.
- 2026Inc. · PressCPG Power List: 26 Insiders Supercharging Your Favorite Startup Consumer BrandsBrian makes Inc.’s list of the insiders behind startup consumer brands.
- Aug 2026Taste Radio · PodcastWhen raising millions starts with a ‘FirstLook’How Brian vets hundreds of brands, and why an inflated valuation can stall a raise.
- Jan 2026The Startup CPG Podcast · PodcastInvestor Spotlight: Brian Folmer, FirstLook VenturesWhat founders need to know before fundraising, from the “why now” slide to runway.
Get in touch.