Patrick Schwarzenegger (MOSH) - Why he's creating the tools for a "mindstyle" lifestyle, why he co-founded a brain bar brand and how he got into angel investing in health and wellness brands
My guest today is Patrick Schwarzenegger, CEO and cofounder of Mosh. Mosh is a brain wellness brand co-founded by both Patrick and his mom, Maria Shriver. They’re on a mission to change the conversation about brain health through food, education, research and providing the tools for a "mindstyle" lifestyle. Patrick is also an actor, angel investor in a number of health and wellness brands. We discuss what attracted him to innovation within health and wellness, how he became interested in investing, what he looks for in companies and the founding story of how he and his mom founded Mosh. Without further ado, here’s Patrick.
- What was your initial attraction or introduction to investing in consumer brands and consumer technology?
- How would you describe your due diligence process as an investor?
- What’s your process for discovering new brands and having a pulse on the latest trends? Do you consider to be more top-down or bottom-up?
- What are trends within CPG that you’re particularly excited about and a trend that you think is maybe past its prime or no longer special?
- Is there any common threads that you’ve seen when it comes to what makes a successful founder or company? KPIs that stand out?
- How early do you typically write a check in a company?
- For your investments that didn’t work out. What tended to be the reasons why the companies failed?
- What were your takeaways from Expo West?
- How do you spend your time? You’re a CEO, actor, active angel investor, how do you juggle it?
- How do you also think and analyze brands that are co-founded by celebrities and people of influence?
- How did you found Mosh with your mom, Maria?
- What was the pain point you both wanted to solve?
- How did you approach building the product?What’s the goal of the brand?
- Currently, you’re only selling online. Are we going to see Mosh in retail channels? How do you think about what the right channels should be for Mosh?
- How do you juggle being CEO and also an actor?
- What’s one thing you would change about the fundraising process or venture capital?
- What’s one book that has inspired you personally and one book that has inspired you professionally?
- Number one book - Atomic Habits
- What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve received?
- What’s one piece of advice that you have for founders?