Brian Folmer

Brian Folmer is the Founder and CEO of FirstLook, a venture capital firm based in Cleveland, Ohio, that aims to streamline the investment process for early-stage consumer brands. He established FirstLook in October 2019 to create a platform where founders can more effectively connect with investors, reducing the time and effort traditionally required to raise funds. The company operates on a model that allows investors to discover and support emerging brands through a subscription box service that showcases high-growth consumer products.12

Background and Experience

• Education: Brian holds degrees in Finance and Economics from The Ohio State University and has also studied at Università Bocconi in Italy.1
• Previous Roles: Before founding FirstLook, he served in various roles including Managing Partner at FirstLook Ventures, Angel Investor at Tally Foods Inc., and held positions at XRC Ventures and Victoria's Secret. He has also been involved as a mentor for several startup accelerators, including Techstars and Andreessen Horowitz.13
• Other Ventures: In addition to FirstLook, he co-founded Distrobox, which facilitates connections between brands and independent distributors. He is also an angel investor and has participated in multiple startup accelerators.13

Personal Interests

Brian is described as a passionate advocate for startups, often engaging with founders to learn from their experiences. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys traveling, skiing, and attending music festivals.23