PODCAST · business
Consumer VC
by Mike Gelb
Consumer VC takes a look into early-stage consumer investing and venture capital. If you are interested in learning about consumer trends, have a b2c business and interested in learning about the fundraising process at the early stage, you have come to the right place. Mike interviews some of the top venture capitalists in the world that focus on B2C and consumer type companies or have a deep track record investing in these categories such as marketplaces, SaaS, social, CPG and non-tech subscription. Mike also interviews founders that are building some of the most disruptive consumer facing companies in the world. The conversation usually includes the insight the founder discovered, fundraising strategy, and the pitch. This podcast also includes bonus episodes. Each bonus episode dives into a particular subject that might not have to due with the fundraise or venture capital, but still would be helpful to founders. For example
Episodes
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From Dead in the Water to Profitable and Why People Don’t Buy Because of the Mission | David Simnick, Founder of Soapbox
This episode is brought to you by The Hidden Gems.Hiring agencies is risky — most overpromise and underdeliver. The Hidden Gems connects founders with highly vetted, brand-beloved boutique agencies across media, creative, dev/design, events, social, and more — at preferred...
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Why He Invests in the Factories, Not Just the Brands with Jared Stein, Co-Founder of Monogram Capital
This episode is brought to you by The Hidden Gems.Hiring agencies is risky, most overpromise and underdeliver. The Hidden Gems connects founders with highly vetted, brand-beloved boutique agencies across media, creative, dev/design, events, social, and more at preferred rates.Jared Stein is...
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Why This VC Built the Marquee Event in CPG | Josh Wand, Family Fund
Josh Wand joins the podcast to discuss the origins of Founderland, which has become of the marquee events in CPG.Josh Wand, co-founder of Family Fund and Founder Community, sits down with Mike Gelb to break down his approach to ecosystem building. They discuss the strategic collaboration with his...
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How Proper Good is Making the Soup Aisle Cool Again with Chris Jane
"We're going to make soup in a pouch. Hear me out."That's how Chris Jane pitched his sister Jennifer on what became Proper Good. They launched in April 2020, scaled DTC through the pandemic, got a Shark Tank deal with Mark Cuban, and then did something almost no emerging brand does: skipped the...
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Why Israel Keeps Producing Billion-Dollar Consumer Companies with Danny Cohen and Oren Charnoff
Israel's next breakout wave isn't coming from B2B. It's being built in consumer. Most people think of Israel as a cybersecurity and enterprise tech powerhouse. Danny Cohen and Oren Charnoff are betting that the country's next defining chapter is being written by consumer founders, and they're...
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The Future of Consumer Health with Nicolas McCoy
The future of consumer health is being built right now. Consumers are becoming the CEOs of their own healthcare. From GLP-1s and peptides to protein, wearables, functional foods, and preventative wellness, entire industries are being reshaped by changing consumer behavior. In this episode, Mike...
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The Psychology of Great Founders with Tony Conrad
This episode is brought to you by The Hidden Gems. Hiring agencies is risky. Most overpromise and underdeliver. The Hidden Gems connects founders with highly vetted, brand-loved boutique agencies across media, creative, dev/design, events, and more — at preferred rates. Free for Consumer VC...
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Why Killing Her First Product Saved This CPG Brand with Michelle Razavi
This episode is brought to you by The Hidden Gems. Hiring agencies is risky. Most overpromise and underdeliver. The Hidden Gems connects founders with highly vetted, brand-loved boutique agencies across media, creative, dev/design, events, and more — at preferred rates. Free for Consumer VC...
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How a Diabetic Built One of the Fastest-Growing Cereal Brands in America with Krishna Kaliannan
This episode is brought to you by The Hidden Gems. Hiring agencies is risky. Most overpromise and underdeliver. The Hidden Gems connects founders with highly vetted, brand-loved boutique agencies across media, creative, dev/design, events, and more — at preferred rates. Free for Consumer VC...
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Is Early-Stage Consumer VC Broken? with Manica Blain
This episode is brought to you by The Hidden Gems. There's a lot of bull$#!+ in the Agency landscape. That's why Founders and Executives of brands both big and small trust: The Hidden Gems. They provide the most optimal boutique Agencies to conquer any brand goals with top quality and efficiency....
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The Emotional Secret Behind Billion-Dollar Brands ft. Craig Dubitsky
This episode is brought to you by The Hidden Gems.Hiring agencies is risky — most overpromise and underdeliver. The Hidden Gems connects founders with highly vetted, brand-beloved boutique agencies across media, creative, dev/design, events, social, and more — at preferred rates. They’ve…
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From World-Class Poker Player to DTC Powerhouse ft. Brian Tate
Most food brands don’t win because of branding.They win because of systems.In this episode, Mike chats with Brian Tate, Founder and CEO of Oats Overnight, the protein-packed, drinkable oatmeal brand that went from a poker side project to a scaled, vertically integrated food business selling DTC…
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The “Better-For-You” Food Lie No One Talks About ft. Tyler Mayoras
Food can be “better for you.” But that doesn’t always mean it actually is. In this episode, Mike chats with Tyler Mayoras, Managing Partner at MANNATREE, a growth equity firm focused on investing in food, beverage, and wellness brands that genuinely improve human health. Tyler has spent decades...
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Consumer Isn’t Dead, VC Just Got It Wrong ft. Michael Duda
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com In this episode, Mike chats with Michael Duda, Founder and Managing…
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He Launched a Tiny Ice Cream Factory, Now It’s a National Brand ft. Alec Jaffe
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.comIce cream is supposed to make you feel good — but most of what’s in the...
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How to Protect Your Margin When You're in Retail ft. Akash Raju
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com Retail is tough—but the hidden costs make it brutal. In this episode…
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Harsh Truth Behind Beauty Exits ft. Rich Gersten
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com He’s one of the most respected investors in beauty and wellness—and he’s...
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Harsh Truth About European Startups ft. Joe Seager
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com What happens when a venture investor builds inside one of the world’s…
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Untold Truth Behind JUUL’s Explosive Growth ft. Alex Cantwell
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com He helped scale JUUL from $1M to $1B in just three years. Now, he’s...
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From Garage Startup to Celebrity-Backed Brand ft. Jake Bullock
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com What if cannabis could become a true social beverage—an alternative to...
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Why Women’s Health, Parenting, and Sports Are the Next Big Bets in Venture ft. Rachel Springate
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com What does it take to raise and run a venture fund focused on the...
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VC Playbook Has Changed. Here’s What Founders Must Do ft. Ezra Galston
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time –https://www.tryglimpse.com What does it take to build a truly durable consumer brand in today’s...
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Recaps, Downrounds and Cap Table Engineering: What Really Happens When Your Growth Plan Fails with Steven Finn
Glimpse is the all-in-one, AI-powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com When fundraising stalls, valuations reset, and the cap table gets...
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The $400B Question: How AI Is Redefining Venture Capital and the Future of Startups
Glimpse is the all‑in‑one, AI‑powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com Q1 2025 was the slowest fundraising quarter for consumer VC in recent...
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Waterloo & Sweet Leaf Tea Founders & Operators Reveal What They Look For in $50M+ Brands with Clayton Christopher and Brian Goldberg
Glimpse is the all‑in‑one, AI‑powered deductions management platform for CPG brands—automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting. Recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com/ EisnerAmper provides financial advisory services tailored to the…
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How CHOMPS Bootstrapped to $500 Million in Sales
Glimpse is the all‑in‑one, AI‑powered deductions management platform for CPG brands, automating deduction capture, classification, disputes, and accounting—recover more revenue while saving time – https://www.tryglimpse.com Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali started Chomps with nothing but a simple...
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What Led Larry Cheng To Invest Early in Chewy, Chamberlain Coffee & US Mobile
Larry Cheng is the Managing Partner at Volition Capital, a $1.7B growth equity firm behind breakout brands like Chewy, Chamberlain Coffee, BURST, and Grove Collaborative. Volition’s unique approach? No early VC checks. No burn-at-all-costs playbooks. Just capital-efficient businesses with...
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Former Matchmaker Turned CEO: How Katie Wilson bought Facebook Groups to Build a Gut Health Empire
This episode is brought to you by Highbeam. Highbeam is the all-in-one banking and cash management platform built for consumer brands – https://www.highbeam.co/capital?partn... Katie Wilson is the CEO and co-founder of BelliWelli, a gut health brand that went from home kitchen experiments to the...
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From Surviving a Plane Crash to Building Baby Formula and Energy Drink Brands: Richard Lavar
This episode is brought to you by Highbeam. Highbeam is the all-in-one banking and cash management platform built for consumer brands – https://www.highbeam.co/capital?partn... Richard Laver isn't your typical founder. At age 12, he survived a plane crash that killed 137 people—including his...
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Don’t Raise VC Money Until You Hear This | Mike Gelb with Shamin Walsh | Consumer VC
This episode is brought to you by Highbeam. Highbeam is the all-in-one banking and cash management platform built for consumer brands – https://www.highbeam.co/capital?partn… Join host Mike Gelb as he chats with Shamin Walsh, Managing Director at BAM Ventures — the early-stage VC firm behind…
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How Ithaca Hummus Scaled to $50M Without Venture Capital? Mike Gelb with Chris Kirby | Consumer VC
This episode is brought to you by Highbeam. Highbeam is the all-in-one banking and cash management platform built for consumer brands – https://www.highbeam.co/capital?partnerId=consumervc In this episode of The Consumer VC, Mike Gelb sits down with Chris Kirby, founder of Ithaca Hummus, to…
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Are You Building for the Right Reasons — or Just Because the Category Is Hot? Should there be a Better Business Bureau for VCs? w/ Sid Banthiya
#venturecapital #consumervc Join host Mike Gelb on The Consumer VC as he talks with Sid Banthiya — investor, advisor, and former CSO at Milk Bar. In this episode, Sid dives deep into consumer startup dynamics, term sheet red flags, and how founders can scale smarter (not louder). Learn why many...
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The Future of Restaurant-Tech: Inside EMERGING’s $100M Fund with Mathew Focht
Mathew Focht is the Founding Managing Partner of EMERGING, a $100M growth capital fund investing in the future of restaurant-tech and entertainment. In this episode of The Consumer VC, Mathew breaks down how EMERGING helps scale innovative hospitality concepts like F1® Arcade, BatBox, Puttshack,...
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Will AI Screw IP Holders, Content Getting Better or Worse, and The Future of Journalism with Ishan Sinha, Partner at Point72 Ventures
#consumervc #venturecapital #aicontentcreation Join host Mike Gelb on The Consumer VC as he talks with Ishan Sinha, Partner at Point72 Ventures.In this episode, Ishan shares insights into the evolving role of AI in consumer startups, the challenges of AI-driven media, and the future of…
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Selling Shorter Shorts to a Successful Exit, The Story of Chubbies with Preston Rutherford
Join host Mike Gelb on The Consumer VC as he talks with Preston Rutherford, co-founder of Chubbies. In this episode, Preston delves into their founding journey, tackling topics like why they raised VC money, overcoming early manufacturing challenges, and evolving their brand strategy. He shares...
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The Fusion of Innovation and Leadership with YuChiang Cheng
Having transitioned from founding companies to supporting early-stage ventures, YC shares his passion for creating consumer-centric solutions across diverse industries. From media and sports technology to consumer goods, he reflects on shifting his focus from generating ideas himself to aiding...
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Why The Supplement Industry Is Broken and How Momentous Plans to Fix It with Jeff Byers
Thank you to our presenting partner –– Propeller Industries https://www.propellerindustries.com/ Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Our guest today is Jeff Byers, CEO of Momentous. Momentous produces and sells best in class...
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Why Invest in CPG and Tech? Expected Returns and Red Antler's VC Journey with Daniel Faierman, Partner at Habitat Partners
Thank you to our Partner –– Propeller Industries https://www.propellerindustries.com/ Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Our guest on today’s episode is Daniel Faierman, Partner at Habitat Partners. Habitat Partners is an...
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Is AI the Sole Future of Consumer Tech, What's Missing in Social & Will Glasses Be The Consumer Platform with Bryan Kim, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz
In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to host Bryan Kim, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, for an insightful conversation on the intersection of venture capital and consumer innovation. Brian shares his remarkable journey from a thriving career in investment banking to becoming a driving force in the...
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How Choosing the Best Food for Your Dog Can Add Years to Their Life & The Problem with The Legacy Pet Food Market with Terri Rockovich, Co-Founder & CEO of Jinx
Thank you to our Partner –– Propeller Industries https://www.propellerindustries.com/ Propeller Industries is the leading strategic finance and accounting partner for venture-stage companies. Thank you Jerry Staub for the intro to our guest today is Terri Rockovich, Founder & CEO of Jinx. Jinx is…
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How He Went From the Music Industry to VC, Investing in Tech vs. Brands, and When Down Rounds Make Sense with Jon Keidan
n this episode with Jonathan Keidan, founder of Torch Capital, we dive into his journey from talent management in the music industry to early-stage venture capital. Jonathan shares how nurturing emerging artists parallels supporting founders, offering unique insights into spotting potential and...
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The Future of Gaming: Game Economies, New Business Models, Gamification, Blockchain Technology & AI Innovation with Brian Cho, Co-Founder of Patron
In this episode with Brian Cho, co-founder and general partner at Patron, we explore the intricacies of the gaming world's future. From the complexities of cross-currency games to the delicate balance of control and user flexibility within game economies, Brian offers his invaluable perspective.…
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The Evolution of Premium Products in Mainstream Retail with Marcel Bens, CEO of Emil Capital Partners
Today, we're diving into the secrets of successful early-stage investments in North American consumer brands with Marcel Bens, CEO of Emil Capital. In this episode, Marcel shares the unique strategy of Emil Capital’s hybrid venture firm, with its sharp focus on 'better-for-you' products and how…
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When to Invest in Consumer Technology with Vanessa Larco at NEA
Our guest today is Vanessa Larco, Partner at NEA. She shares her journey from pioneering XBox at Microsoft to navigating the social gaming boom with Playdom and making her mark in venture capital. Discover her investment ethos centered on consumer passion projects, successful investments in...
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Turning Science into Consumer Brands with Osman Khan, CEO of Squared Circles
Join us as we explore the cutting-edge intersection of AI, science, and consumer innovation with Osman Khan, CEO and co-founder of Squared Circles. Discover how his venture studio is revolutionizing product development and redefining the future of consumer brands. Thank you to our Partner ––...
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Investing in the Future of Healthy Living with Abby Miller Levy, Managing Partner and Founder at Primetime Partners
Our Guests Today is Abby Miller Levy, the visionary founder of Primetime Partners. In this enlightening episode, Abby shares her journey from personal frustration with her aging parents to spearheading a venture capital firm that is revolutionizing opportunities for older adults. Discover How…
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How They Built a Direct-to-Consumer Baby Food Brand and Scaled to Selling Millions of Products Each Month with Angela Vranich and Ben Lewis From Little Spoon
Our guests today are Angela Vranich and Ben Lewis, the dynamic duo behind Little Spoon, as we explore their journey from high school sweethearts to co-founders of a revolutionary baby food brand. Listen in as they share how their early fascination with consumer brands led them to the natural...
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Future of Food Tech, Can A Retail Model Like Foxtrot Work at Scale, and Channel Strategy for Food Brands with Ashley Hartman and Andrew Bluestein @ Bluestein Ventures
Our guests today are Andrew Bluestein and Ashley Hartman, Managing Partners of Bluestein Ventures. Bluestein Ventures invests in the future of food. What does that mean? They focus on investing in High-growth consumer brands, Proprietary foodtech, Next-gen commerce, Value-add digital technology....
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Unlocking the Potential of Beauty and Personal Care Brands With Manica Blain
Our guest today is Manica Blain. In this episode, we journey through the fascinating evolution of two beauty brands that have overcome initial hurdles to achieve remarkable success. Discover how an Ayurvedic beauty brand captured investor interest through high repeat purchase rates and how…
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The New Types of Acquirers in Health & Wellness, Different Parts Of The Term Sheet That Could Make a Difference In The Exit, and How Deals Get Done with Teddie Townsend from CG Sawaya Partners
Our guest today is Teddy Townsend of CG Sawaya Partners, as we explore the dynamic world of health and wellness brand acquisitions.Teddy brings her expertise to the table, shedding light on why companies in this vibrant sector pursue mergers and acquisitions, and how different types of buyers…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Consumer VC takes a look into early-stage consumer investing and venture capital. If you are interested in learning about consumer trends, have a b2c business and interested in learning about the fundraising process at the early stage, you have come to the right place.
Mike interviews some of the top venture capitalists in the world that focus on B2C and consumer type companies or have a deep track record investing in these categories such as marketplaces, SaaS, social, CPG and non-tech subscription.
Mike also interviews founders that are building some of the most disruptive consumer facing companies in the world. The conversation usually includes the insight the founder discovered, fundraising strategy, and the pitch.
This podcast also includes bonus episodes. Each bonus episode dives into a particular subject that might not have to due with the fundraise or venture capital, but still would be helpful to founders. For example
HOSTED BY
Mike Gelb
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Consumer VC have?
Consumer VC currently has 411 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Consumer VC about?
Consumer VC takes a look into early-stage consumer investing and venture capital. If you are interested in learning about consumer trends, have a b2c business and interested in learning about the fundraising process at the early stage, you have come to the right place. Mike interviews some of the...
How often does Consumer VC release new episodes?
Consumer VC publishes regularly with 411 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Consumer VC?
You can listen to Consumer VC on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Consumer VC?
Consumer VC is created and hosted by Mike Gelb.
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