(Photo courtesy of Riff Cold Brewed Coffee)
A Virtual “Who’s Who” of Oregon Technology & Consumer Products Executives Fund New Coffee Startup
Riff Cold Brewed Coffee, a new craft beverage company founded by veterans from Crux Fermentation Project, Stumptown Coffee, and LinkedIn, announced that it has raised a $1 million angel round investment from an impressive list of technology executives and entrepreneurs.
Participating in the oversubscribed round are some of the most recognized names in Oregon’s technology and consumer products ecosystem. They include:
- Steve Marsh – Founder & CEO of Smarsh, “2018 Oregon Technology Executive of the Year”
- Scott Allan – CEO of Hydroflask, “2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year”
- Travis Rush – Founder & CEO of Sightbox
- Michael Potter – Former Chairman and CEO, Big Lots
- Tom Sperry – Partner, Rogue Ventures
- Dan Hobin – Founder & CEO of G5
- Rob Little – Co-founder & CEO of Cairn
- Jared Peterson – Co-founder & COO of Cairn
- Darren Pleasance – Managing Director, Global Customer Acquisition, Google
- Adam Audette – Senior Vice President, Global Head of SEO, Merkle
- Shaun Klopfenstein – Founder & CTO of NutureCo. Former CTO, Marketo
- Will Young – Partner, VTF Capital, and Former Director, Zappos Labs
In addition, Riff announced that it has created a four-person Advisory Board that will play an instrumental role as the company executes on its aggressive plans to expand sales and marketing throughout the western United States. They are:
- Jamie Danek, Co-founder & CEO of Humm Kombucha
- Sarah Pool, Co-founder & CEO of Canvas and former Co-founder & CEO of Pacific Superfoods
- Bump Williams, a nationally recognized craft beverage distribution expert
- Sanjay Dholakia, former CMO of Marketo
Riff will use this funding to operate its 9,000 square foot production facility in Redmond, OR, open the world’s first taproom dedicated to cold brewed coffee innovation (in Bend, OR next month) and launch the Riff Cold Brewed Tapshack adjacent to the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, OR (opened September 2018). The company is projected to surpass 500 points of distribution by year-end with products available in popular grocery and convenience stores, bars and restaurants. And, many premium employers are also offering Riff Cold Brewed Coffee on draft as a perk to its workforce.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to participate in Riff’s initial fundraising. The caliber of the team is what originally attracted me to the opportunity,” said Scott Allan, CEO of Hydro Flask. “Then as I became more familiar with the cold brewed coffee space, and the massive consumer migration—especially Millennials and Gen Z’ers—to all-natural products from those with additives and sweeteners, I was convinced Riff will be one of the next great craft beverage brands.”
ABOUT RIFF COLD BREWED COFFEE
Riff is Paul Evers, co-founder of Crux Fermentation Project; Nate Armbrust, former head of product development and cold brew operations at Stumptown; Steve Barham, former senior director at LinkedIn; and Bobby Evers and Kevin Smyth, both with deep experience in craft beer branding and operations. And Riff is so much more— an enthusiastic and diverse tribe of investors, employees, partners, and you.
When we riff on an idea, we start with a question: What if? What if we brewed coffee cold, for a sweeter, smoother flavor? What if we poured it on tap? Into a glass, not a mug? What if we met for coffee in the evening? With friends, and maybe—gasp—without wifi? What if it weren’t sacrilegious to drink our coffee decaffeinated, spiced, fruited, or even barrel fermented with wild yeast? Now we’re talking. Let’s Riff! For more information visit riffcoldbrewed.com or call 458-206-0825.
