Fourward Ventures, a new VC fund founded by Will Ward who runs Fourward Inc., a talent, music, production, and incubator company. Fourward Ventures is an early-stage growth fund actively investing in sectors including health and wellness, sustainability, and CPG. The company has successfully closed half the fund and is currently on track to close the balance by September 15th.
Fourward Ventures has already built an esteemed reputation amongst its network throughout Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and founders that has fueled their access to competitive deal flow.
The company seeks brands that disrupt traditional consumer categories through innovation and aims to drive change in society through products or services. By utilizing its team of experts in investing, operations, and entertainment strategy, Fourward Ventures identifies both celebrity and non-celebrity businesses and helps to quickly scale cutting edge early-stage brands into world-class businesses.
Fourward Ventures also distinguishes itself through its advanced commitment of 10% of its carry profits to three different charities; one that prepares young adults in underserved communities to succeed in the workforce, one that supports women launching their own businesses, and one that provides micro loans to fuel entrepreneurship around the world.
“I am incredibly proud of the amazing success Fourward Ventures has achieved in less than a year,” said Will Ward, Founder and Managing Partner of Fourward Ventures. “With my amazing team including Michael Mizrahi and Mallory Shickora, I am proud to say we have so far vetted 407 companies and have invested in nine of them, all of which have shown significant growth since our investment.”
At Fourward Ventures, Ward has combined his strategic approach to management with his extensive network in finance and tech to build multi-million-dollar businesses around celebrities. He launched his career at CAA Music before transitioning to Motion Picture talent at Endeavor (WME) and, in his tenure as agent, Ward represented some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Adam Sandler, Ryan Reynolds, David Spade, Dustin Hoffman and Mark Wahlberg. As a founder of his own firms, ROAR and Fourward, Ward launched and built the careers of global superstars, including Chris Hemsworth and Zac Brown Band, and managed stars like Dead & Co and Brie Larson. Recently Fourward has had some great success in its film/tv and music departments, including a movie that premiered in a key spot at South by Southwest and have signed some big up and coming artists in both departments. Ward’s eye for world-class talent and high-growth investment opportunities continues to be a core differentiator in Fourward’s services.
So far, Fourward Ventures portfolio consists of, Audio Up, a full-service podcast and audio-based content production house; Goodles, a mac and cheese company that is reinventing the classic CPG staple with bold flavors and nutritional ingredients and is co-founded by Gal Gadot; Lomi by Pela an easy-to-use appliance solution for composting food waste; Mad Rabbit, skincare formulated for people with tattoos offering pre-care, post-care and daily maintenance; Partake, a delicious and allergen-free food brand targeting the needs of children and adults; Samsara, a company that has developed a proprietary biocatalyst technology that can fully break down any type of plastic, which has yet to done; Starface, a pimple patch that takes the stigma out of acne for teenagers and young adults; Julie, female product in the reproductive health and wellness space; and Bryn Pharma, a pharmaceutical company that developed a proprietary, non-injectable, nasal delivery system to administer epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylaxis.
Ward also co-founded Centr, Chris Hemsworth’s health and wellness fitness app, which was recently acquired by HighPost Capital; Ready-to-drink craft cocktails with Aisha Tyler; and Z. Alexander Brown, a wine brand built around Zac Brown Brand, to name a few.
