Elevated Partnership
for Extraordinary Brands
Investment Partners to the Most Promising Consumer Brands
We have a track record of building the highest quality relationships—often lifelong friendships—with the entrepreneurs behind some of the most successful brands of the last decade and working tirelessly to help entrepreneurs maximize the value and mission of their brands. We serve entrepreneurs with experience, passion and humility.
Partner Brands
We partner with brands that break compromises, solve problems, spark joy, improve lives and create a better world.
Investment Focus
revenue
$5 - $30 Million
investment size
$5 - $30 Million
investment type
Minority Investor
Categories
Personal Care
Beauty
Food
Beverage
Pet
Baby Products
Household
Wine & Spirits
Lifestyle
Our Approach
Each founder’s journey is unique. We draw on our experience assisting many of the most successful brands of the last decade to help each founder maximize their brand’s potential.
Strategic Planning
Omni-Channel Strategy
Recruiting & Organizational Design
Sales Strategy & Retailer Relationships
Marketing & Branding
Supply Chain & Product Development
Ongoing Capital & Lender Relationships
Exit Optimization & Assistance
Team
We’re in the partnership business, constantly trying to improve the ways in which we serve entrepreneurs.
Managing Partner
Trevor Nelson
Trevor is a founder and managing partner at Aria and oversees current and prospective investments. Trevor currently serves on the board of Hero Cosmetics.
Prior to Aria, Trevor was a co-founding partner at Alliance Consumer Growth where he co-led the firm through three successful funds and over 22 investments in leading consumer brands from 2011 to 2019. At Alliance, Trevor served on the board of brands including: BarkThins (acquired by Hershey), Evol Foods (acquired by Boulder Brands), LOLA, OUAI Haircare, Clio, among others. While at Alliance, Trevor was named to Fortune Magazine’s 40-Under-40, which recognizes the most influential young people in business and to Forbes’ list of Top Dealmakers in the Consumer Industry.
Previously, Trevor worked in the North American buyouts group at TPG Capital, Harvest Partners, and began his career in the M&A group at Lehman Brothers. Trevor received a B.A. in political science from Northwestern where he was the captain of the men’s division-I varsity soccer team.
Trevor resides in Brooklyn with his wife and two children.
Principal
Jackie Dunklau
Jackie is a founder and principal at Aria and oversees current and prospective investments. Jackie currently serves on the board of Hero Cosmetics.
Prior to Aria, Jackie was an investor at CAVU Venture Partners from 2016-2020, where she was the first investment team hire in New York. Jackie led diligence and managed portfolio companies through three funds and served on the boards of Skinny Dipped Almonds, Bulletproof, Poppi, Chef’s Cut (acquired by Sonoma Brands) and WTRMLN WTR (acquired by Caribé Juice).
Prior to CAVU Ventures Jackie was an investor at BrandProject where she oversaw the firm’s investments in Freshly (acquired by Nestlé), Daily Harvest and Chef’s Plate (acquired by Hello Fresh).
Previously, Jackie worked at L Catterton, TRAUB and began her career at UBS Investment Bank in the Consumer Products & Retail group. Jackie graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Commerce and received her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Jackie resides in New York City with her husband and son.
CFO & CCO
Dawn Techow
Dawn Techow is a founder and CFO/CCO at Aria.
Prior to Aria, Dawn was the founder and CEO of Relish Food Project, an outsourced accounting, finance and CFO services firm focused on early-stage CPG companies. Before founding Relish, Dawn was the COO at Peeled Snacks, where she was involved in all aspects of building an early-stage natural food company.
Dawn began her career as an Account Executive at FCB, an advertising agency and after business school, held several positions working with start-up non-profit organizations before joining Peeled Snacks.
She received a B.A. in History from Duke University and her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
A Louisiana native, Dawn lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son and dog.
News
Contact
Let’s talk.
Email us at info@ariagrowth.com