I’m Ben Tannenbaum - an angel investor and the founder of August West. I back early-stage CPG and beverage brands with capital, context, and a real understanding of what it takes to grow in crowded, chaotic categories.

I’ve worked with top alcohol and CPG brands to turn shopper data into commercial velocity, driving growth across spirits, beer, wine, RTDs - and the occasional condiment.

I’ve spent my career spotting what’s next - from premiumization to the rise of zero-proof, from shelf clutter to retail media chaos - and helping brands cut through it all with clarity, creativity, and momentum.

I started August West to support the kinds of founders I want to see win - the ones building with taste, guts, and clarity in categories that need a shake-up. My role isn’t to get in the way. It’s to offer perspective, pattern recognition, and whatever’s actually helpful - from marketing strategy to gut checks on packaging. The best partnerships feel like momentum, not oversight.

Outside the pitch deck, I’m a proud Girl Dad, native plant enthusiast, part-time deadlifter, and recovering media guy who thinks go-to-market starts with going to the corner store. I spend a lot of time thinking about why people buy what they buy - and how to explain it to a kindergartener.