Jeff Cantalupo

Managing Partner at Listen Ventures

Greater Chicago Area

Overview

Jeff Cantalupo is a consumer-focused investor based in the Greater Chicago Area, known for founding Listen Ventures and serving as a board member for various companies. His notable career achievements include investing in a range of successful companies such as Black Buffalo, Miss Grass, and Codeverse, and his expertise in sectors like Payments, Consumer Internet, and FinTech. Currently, Jeff Cantalupo is actively involved in investing in early-stage companies in the Midwest region, particularly in the areas of consumer internet and fintech, while also serving on the board of multiple organizations like Fable, Black Buffalo Inc., and Rise Gardens.

Work Experience

Listen Ventures

Founder, Managing Partner
2010 - Current
Listen is a consumer obsessed venture capital firm. We back and build the brands of tomorrow.

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management

Adjunct Professor
2020
Teach Startup Branding. There is a big difference between managing an existing brand vs. starting a brand from scratch. We teach students how to leverage consumer insights to unlock powerful brand strategy and lead the business through a brand lens.

Go Brewing

Board Member
2024

Black Buffalo Inc.

Board Member
2022

Black Buffalo is a smokeless tobacco alternative that has the same texture, taste, aroma, and experience as traditional dipping products.

Raised $39,750,000.00 from Listen, Watchfire Ventures, Vice Ventures and The Pritzker Organization.

blackbuffalo.com

Miss Grass

Board Member
2019

Miss Grass is a modern and elevated online magazine with captivating content and an e-commerce destination for modern cannabis consumers.

Raised $4,000,000.00 from Five Four Ventures, Rachel Springate, Listen, Kate Miller, Firstminute Capital, Casa Verde Capital, Advancit Capital, Assia Grazioli and Third Kind Venture Capital.

shop.missgrass.com