How Denise Lambertson Turned Celebrity Marketing into a Venture Fund

In this episode, I sit down with Denise Lambertson, founder and managing partner of Constellation Capital, a venture fund investing in early-stage consumer brands in the health and wellness space.Denise’s path into venture capital was anything but traditional. She began her career building LMS, a celebrity and influencer marketing agency that connected high-profile talent with emerging brands through sweat equity partnerships. After facilitating a pivotal deal that introduced celebrity investing into her network, she realized she was already operating like a venture fund—just without deploying capital. That insight ultimately led to the creation of Constellation Capital.We talk about what makes a standout early-stage CPG brand, how consumer trends are identified before they hit the mainstream, and why AI literacy is becoming a critical advantage for founders. Denise also shares how her background in marketing shapes her investment lens, what she looks for beyond traditional metrics, and the lessons she’s learned navigating a non-linear career path.If you’re interested in venture capital, consumer brands, or building your career in an unconventional way, this episode is for you.