LOS ANGELES, CA — Ice Tea Taste Tomorrow Ventures (TTV), a newly formed venture capital firm committed to reshaping the future of consumer food and beverage experiences, has officially announced the initial close of its inaugural investment vehicle, TTV Fund I, securing $30 million in commitments. The fund is specifically focused on supporting early-stage and Series A companies in the food, beverage, and snack industries that are disrupting traditional models and resonating with evolving consumer tastes.
Backed by a roster of high-profile strategic investors, TTV Fund I is off to a promising start. Notable among its investors are Ball Corporation, a global leader in sustainable aluminum packaging solutions, and Advantage Solutions, a top-tier provider of sales and marketing services to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers. These partners bring not only capital but also strategic insight, industry connections, and operational support that can accelerate the growth trajectory of portfolio companies.
Seasoned Leadership Behind the Vision
Taste Tomorrow Ventures was established by a trio of highly respected industry veterans: Danny Stepper, Dino Sarti, and Scott Guthrie. Stepper and Sarti are best known as the co-founders of LA Libations, a brand incubation and commercialization firm that has played an instrumental role in the launch and success of numerous beverage brands. Guthrie brings his own robust background in business strategy, consumer product development, and venture investment. Collectively, the TTV founding team boasts more than 80 years of combined experience in launching, scaling, and investing in some of the most successful and disruptive consumer product brands in the U.S. and abroad.
According to Stepper, the vision for TTV is deeply personal and mission-driven. “We’ve spent decades in the trenches helping founders and emerging brands grow from concept to category leaders. Taste Tomorrow Ventures is the natural next step for us—formalizing that mission into a fund that’s solely focused on helping visionary entrepreneurs build the next generation of purposeful brands,” he said.
Investment Focus: The Future of Food and Beverage
TTV Fund I will target companies that are reimagining how consumers engage with food and drink—prioritizing functional ingredients, sustainability, authenticity, and health-conscious innovation. These may include beverage startups offering clean energy drinks or adaptogenic blends, snack companies developing plant-based and gut-friendly options, or food brands leveraging emerging food tech and regenerative agriculture principles.
The fund’s investment philosophy is based on more than financial capital. TTV offers a hands-on, collaborative approach, providing early-stage founders with support across operations, retail distribution, logistics, marketing, product innovation, and strategic partnerships. Through their extensive network in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, the TTV partners are able to plug startups into a web of critical relationships—from suppliers and co-packers to buyers at major retail chains and strategic acquirers.
“We know firsthand how lonely and complex the journey of a CPG founder can be,” said Dino Sarti. “TTV isn’t just a check—we’re operators, mentors, connectors, and long-term partners. We’re here to roll up our sleeves and work side-by-side with founders to help them scale responsibly and efficiently.”
First Investment: Just Ice Tea
As a signal of the type of companies TTV aims to support, the fund’s first investment is in Just Ice Tea, an emerging force in the ready-to-drink iced tea segment. Launched by social impact entrepreneur Seth Goldman, co-founder of Honest Tea and chair of the board at Beyond Meat, Just Ice Tea is quickly gaining attention for its mission-driven model, clean ingredient list, and rapidly growing consumer base.
TTV’s partnership with Just Ice Tea is described as a strategic equity investment that aligns with the fund’s commitment to backing brands that demonstrate a strong sense of purpose, product-market fit, and passionate leadership.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Seth and the Just Ice Tea team,” said Danny Stepper. “This is exactly the kind of brand we set out to invest in—one that is redefining its category while staying true to values like sustainability, health, and social impact.”
Scott Guthrie, Managing Director of Taste Tomorrow Ventures, emphasized that Just Ice Tea reflects a broader cultural shift. “The next generation of consumers is demanding transparency, authenticity, and better lifestyle choices. Just Ice Tea checks all those boxes and more. It’s a brand with integrity, and we’re proud to be part of its journey.”
A Strategic Network of Industry Partners
The strategic support of investors like Ball Corporation and Advantage Solutions is expected to give TTV portfolio companies a distinctive edge. Ball Corporation brings expertise in sustainable packaging—a growing priority for eco-conscious consumers—while Advantage Solutions offers unparalleled access to retail channels and consumer insights. These partnerships enable TTV to not only invest capital but also offer significant value in shaping go-to-market strategies and building long-term brand equity.
“Having a coalition of strategic investors that are deeply embedded in the food and beverage value chain enhances our ability to create value for our startups,” said Sarti. “These are not passive investors—they’re collaborators who share our vision for building smarter, healthier, and more sustainable brands.”
Looking Ahead: Final Close and Growth Strategy
The firm anticipates the final close of TTV Fund I in late summer 2025, with the goal of expanding its portfolio to include 10–15 high-potential companies over the next several years. Each investment will be made with the intent of building enduring brands that have the potential to disrupt their categories and create lasting positive impact.
While the focus remains on the U.S. market initially, the founders are not ruling out international investments or collaborations in the future. The firm is also open to co-investments and syndications with other mission-aligned funds.
As the food and beverage landscape continues to shift under the pressure of changing consumer expectations, environmental imperatives, and technological disruption, Taste Tomorrow Ventures is positioning itself as a catalyst for the next wave of innovation.
“Our name says it all—we’re not just thinking about what’s trending today,” said Stepper. “We’re thinking about what people will want tomorrow, and how we can help visionary founders deliver that future.”
