January 30, 2023

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Daniel Lubetzky and the team behind the success of KIND Snacks announced the launch of Camino Partners, a new investment platform designed to leverage investment for business-building and creating long-term value for entrepreneurs building next-gen brands. 

With an initial investment of only $5 million, the strategic team behind Camino Partners were the ones who guided every stage of growth for KIND, seeing it grow into a leading multi-billion-dollar food brand, paving the way for other purpose-driven enterprises.

The team is now ready to dedicate this wealth of experience by partnering with entrepreneurs to co-found, launch, and build new ventures, and to take meaningful positions in existing entrepreneur-led ventures to usher them through their next phase of growth. 

“Through KIND, we have amassed tons of expertise on what it takes to identify a true white space, develop a unique value proposition, and grow an iconic brand that ultimately gives way to a successful global business,” said Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND and founder and chairman of Camino Partners. “Our team at Camino Partners is ready to help today’s brightest entrepreneurs do the same.”

Through this mission, Camino Partners is aiming to team up with innovative market solutions that defy categories while shifting culture and meeting real demands of the market.

Within its partnerships, Camino Partners will take a hands-on approach, and will work closely with its portfolio companies to successfully guide each through phases of growth by tapping into the same integrity, ingenuity, and spirit that led to KIND’s success. 

“Too often in growth equity investing, entrepreneurs are forced to compromise their product, culture, vision or values to conform to an investor’s markers for short-term success,” said Elle Lanning, former KIND executive and managing partner, Camino Partners. “We know that every company’s pathway to scale will look different, and we look forward to taking that journey with values-aligned partners.”

Formerly known as Equilibra, Camino Partners has already made significant strides. The team co-founded SOMOS, a better-for-you Mexican food brand being led by Daniel Lubetzky, Miguel Leal, and Rodrigo Zuloaga; and has made investments in companies such as Belgian Boys, a European breakfast and snack brand led by Anouck Gotlib; gimme, a seaweed snack brand founded and led by Annie Chun and Steve Broad; and CAVA, a Mediterranean food brand co-founded and led by Brett Schulman. 

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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