Focus, Moats, and the New Consumer Playbook with Drew Skolnik of KarpReilly

The consumer investing landscape has shifted and few people have a better view of that evolution than Drew Skolnik, Partner at KarpReilly, one of the most respected growth equity investors in consumer, retail, and CPG.In this episode, Drew breaks down how capital discipline, focus, and brand fundamentals have become the new edge in consumer investing.We cover:How investor expectations have changed since the 2021 boomWhy sustainable growth now beats blitzscalingThe “hand-to-mouth tax” founders pay for undercapitalizationHow KarpReilly evaluates brands between $20M–$100M in revenueCase studies like Boxycharm, Spindrift, and Made InWhy protein is a durable macro trend and what GLP-1 drugs mean for food and beverageThe rising role of AI in portfolio operations and marketingDrew also shares what he looks for in founders, the importance of execution as a moat, and why the best businesses are often built in tough environments.