CAVU Elevates Jared Jacobs to Managing Partner, Eyes Next Growth Phase

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 23, 2026 – CAVU Consumer Partners, the investment firm behind breakout brands like Poppi and The Farmer’s Dog, has promoted Jared Jacobs to Managing Partner. The move elevates Jacobs to the firm's highest leadership rank alongside Co-Founders Brett Thomas and Rohan Oza, signaling a strategic reinforcement of its founder-centric investment model as it pushes deeper into high-growth consumer categories.

Jacobs, who has been with the firm since 2017, will continue to spearhead investments in the pet, human nutrition, and wellness verticals. His promotion is not just a personnel change but a significant affirmation of the firm's strategy of cultivating leadership from within and doubling down on the sectors shaping modern consumer behavior.

A New Guard in Consumer Investing

Jacobs' ascent to Managing Partner underscores a career marked by a keen eye for consumer trends and a deep understanding of the founder journey. Before joining CAVU, he honed his financial acumen in the M&A group at Morgan Stanley and later focused on the consumer and retail sector at private equity firm AEA Investors. This background provided a robust foundation for his work at CAVU, where he has been instrumental in identifying and nurturing high-potential brands.

His promotion is a formal recognition of the significant impact he has already made. “Jared has a rare ability to build authentic, long-term relationships with founders,” said Brett Thomas, Co-Founder and Managing Partner. “He earns trust quickly, identifies unique consumer inflection points before they reach market consensus, and works side-by-side with management teams through every phase of growth.”

This sentiment is echoed by Co-Founder Rohan Oza, the brand-building guru known for his time as a guest judge on ABC's Shark Tank. “Jared embodies everything we look for in a partner at CAVU,” Oza stated. “He has exceptional instincts for brands, deep empathy for founders, and an unwavering commitment to our mission of helping purpose-driven companies reach their full potential.”

By elevating an internal leader, CAVU signals stability and continuity in its investment philosophy, ensuring that the core principles that led to blockbuster successes like Bai’s $1.7 billion sale to Dr. Pepper Snapple and ONE Brands' $397 million acquisition by Hershey continue to guide its future.

Beyond Capital: The Founder-First Philosophy

CAVU—an aviation term for “Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited”—has built its reputation on being more than a source of capital. The firm's ethos is centered on creating the best possible conditions for entrepreneurs to succeed. Jacobs' promotion highlights the human element of this strategy, emphasizing partnership over passive investment.

His hands-on involvement is evident across the firm's portfolio. Jacobs serves on the Board of Directors for a diverse set of innovative companies, including organic baby food leader Once Upon a Farm (NYSE: OFRM), wellness brand Beekeeper's Naturals, pet supplement company Native Pet, and at-home fitness platform obé Fitness. He is also a board observer for clean beauty brand OSEA Malibu and cat food company Made by Nacho, and has been a key investor in successes like The Farmer's Dog and the viral sensation Poppi, which was acquired by PepsiCo in 2025.

This deep engagement is what sets the firm apart in a crowded field. While many private equity firms focus purely on financial engineering, CAVU's model relies on strategic and operational guidance, leveraging its network to help founders with everything from supply chain logistics to marketing and distribution. Jacobs' talent for earning founder trust has been central to this value-creation process, enabling the firm to forge true partnerships that drive growth.

Strategic Bets on Pet, Nutrition, and Wellness

Jacobs’ continued leadership in the pet, human nutrition, and wellness sectors is a calculated bet on the future of the consumer market. These verticals are not just trending; they represent a fundamental shift in lifestyle and spending priorities, a shift that CAVU is expertly positioned to capitalize on.

The wellness industry alone has grown into a $5.6 trillion global market, with consumers increasingly prioritizing personal health, from functional foods to personalized fitness. Similarly, the human nutrition space, particularly the “better-for-you” segment, remains a hotbed for investment, fueled by a growing consumer distrust of processed foods and a demand for products with tangible health benefits.

Meanwhile, the pet category continues to show what analysts call “staggering” tailwinds. The humanization of pets has created immense demand for premium food, supplements, and services, making it a resilient and rapidly expanding market. CAVU's investments in brands like The Farmer's Dog and Native Pet, with Jacobs' direct involvement, demonstrate a clear strategy to lead in this space.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

CAVU operates in a highly competitive environment, vying for deals against consumer-focused private equity giants like L Catterton and TSG Consumer Partners. However, the firm has consistently punched above its weight, a testament to its specialized, founder-friendly approach. With assets under management approaching $1.7 billion, CAVU has proven its ability to identify and scale iconic brands.

The firm's recent performance validates its strategy. In 2025, CAVU saw two major exits with the sale of Poppi to PepsiCo and beauty brand OSEA to General Atlantic. It also successfully closed its fifth fund with $325 million in commitments, exceeding its target and securing reinvestment from over 90% of its existing limited partners—a strong vote of confidence from the institutional investment community.

As Jacobs steps into his new role, his focus remains clear. “Over the last nine years, our mission has remained the same: to partner with visionary founders solving real problems for consumers,” he said. “I’m excited for this next chapter as we continue to back the next generation of iconic consumer brands.”