Sam McBride: The Scale-Up Specialist
After helping grow RXBAR from roughly $2 million in sales to a $600 million exit to Kellogg as its chief operating officer, Sam McBride has spent the better part of the last decade applying that same operational playbook as an investor in the next generation of better-for-you brands. While still running his firm, Colter Ventures, he’s moved back into the operator role as CEO of Kettle & Fire, where he’s helping the bone broth pioneer expand its manufacturing footprint and defend its leadership position as the category matures. McBride has advised and invested in companies including MUSH, Four Sigmatic, Minor Figures and Nature’s Willow, giving him influence well beyond a single balance sheet. Plenty of investors write checks. Plenty of operators know how to build brands. McBride has shown he can do both – and that’s made him one of the more sought-after partners for founders looking to turn early momentum into enduring businesses.