Cam Crowder / Redstick Ventures

Cam Crowder is co-founder and GP of Redstick Ventures, an early-stage fund focused on transforming the food ecosystem.

Cam’s background is as an operator. He ran six Tim Hortons franchises, managed over 200 employees, and faced the operational hurdles of the food industry firsthand. Labor shortages, supply chain inefficiencies, razor-thin margins. Those challenges led him to angel investing and eventually co-founding Redstick Ventures.

Our conversation gets into why the food industry is ripe for innovation. Staffing levels remain 2.1% below pre-pandemic levels. 62% of food operators cite staffing as their top challenge. Wages are up 23% since 2019, compressing margins. The food automation technology market is projected to reach $35.7 billion by 2027.

Redstick sees these challenges as opportunities. Kitchen robotics, AI-driven inventory management, smart POS systems. Supply chain localization. Technologies that streamline operations and lower costs.

While corporate venture funds like Tyson Foods focus on later-stage companies, Redstick invests earlier and takes calculated risks. Their operator-led approach provides unique insights at the earliest stages.

Full episode below, or on Spotify / Apple Podcasts