Zell Founders Fund Announces $100,000 Investment in Just Enough Wines

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Zell Founders Fund, in collaboration with the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business, announced today that it has contributed $100,000 to a recent funding round for Just Enough Wines, a premium quality canned wine company founded by University of Michigan alumna Kaitlyn Lo (MBA '21) with her friend, Jessica Hershfield.

"People are gravitating toward canned beverages that are more portable, convenient, and sustainable," said Kaitlyn Lo, co-founder and COO of Just Enough Wines. "Our goal is to be the nation's No. 1 selling premium canned wine. The Zell Founders Fund's $100,000 investment in Just Enough Wines is helping us at a critical point in time as we approach our company's one-year anniversary from when we first started selling our wines and begin to expand into new geographical markets."

The Zell Lurie Institute's rich and diverse entrepreneurial programming helped Lo build and think about her new venture while she was an MBA student at Michigan Ross.

"From hands-on courses such as the Financing Research Commercialization class to the sessions offered through Dare to Dream, there were plenty of resources available to help me with different facets of the business," said Lo, who received a Dare to Dream grant and was named a Zell Entrepreneur. "The Zell Lurie Institute also provided access to the law clinic, a design team, and a network of other entrepreneurs."

Daniela Sanchez (JD/MBA '22) and Simona Zhu (BBA '22), who led the Founders Fund due diligence team, said they were impressed by the brand and partnerships that Lo and Hershfield had built since launching their company in January 2020 with limited funding from friends and family.

"This was not just a vision ? they had a product on the market and strong strategic partnerships in the wine industry," said Sanchez. "Additionally, the founders leveraged their strengths but also recognized their gaps, which is essential for growth."

The two student investors took responsibility for the entire due diligence process, beginning in April with initial research and founder calls. They pitched the company to other Founders Fund members and made their decision to invest in mid-May.

"There's been a lot of movement in the alcoholic beverage landscape, so it was interesting to see what the other players are doing and to understand how Just Enough Wines fits into the ecosystem," said Zhu. "It's clear that the founders have been very thoughtful in their go-to-market approach, and we are excited to see their new developments in implementation and customer acquisition for Just Enough Wines."

"We really enjoyed working with Daniela and Simona," said Lo. "It was evident they were very knowledgeable and had done their research into our market and competitors."

"The mission of the Zell Founders Fund is to back recent University of Michigan graduates who are starting businesses right out of school and need help to get going," said Michael Godwin (MBA '10), faculty director of the Fund. "Our goals are different, so the return on investment is a secondary consideration.

"Kaitlyn and Jess had been working on the company together for a little over a year and a half and had made quite a bit of progress," Godwin said. "They already have product sales in the market and a pretty strong team, including co-investors from the wine industry and partners on the distribution side. It was easy to pull the trigger on this investment."

Just Enough Wines worked with experienced winemakers and vineyard operators in California to craft and produce its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Brut Bubbles in 2020, followed by a Rosé in May of 2021. It currently sells its premium canned wine in more than 100 retail locations across the state and offers direct-to-consumer shipping in California, Oregon, and Florida.

The environmentally friendly company focuses on sustainable measures for sourcing its wines as well as labeling and packaging its final products. Future expansion plans call for new product launches in several states, including Michigan where wines will be shipped directly to consumers' homes.

Launching a startup during the Covid-19 pandemic was a significant challenge, but Just Enough Wines has regained its momentum and now has a fully booked calendar of wine events and tastings.

Funds from this investment will enable Just Enough Wines to expand its production, gain greater awareness with marketing, and retain a talented team.

"We've grown fast, but it has been a fun journey," said Lo.

The Zell Founders Fund is a $10 million seed fund made possible by a 2015 gift from business magnate Sam Zell. Created to support extraordinary entrepreneurs who are either graduating or have recently graduated from the University of Michigan, the Fund is led by Ross School of Business students who represent the top talent from the Zell Lurie Institute's four other established student-led funds.

For more information on the Zell Founders Fund, please visit: http://zli.umich.edu/programs-funds/zell-founders-fund 

About University of Michigan: Ross School of Business
The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a vibrant and distinctive learning community grounded in the principle that business can be an extraordinary vehicle for positive change. Through thought and action, members of the Michigan Ross community drive change and innovation that improves business and society. Housed within Ross, the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies is a leading center for entrepreneurial thought leadership and engagement.

About the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies
The Zell Lurie Institute brings together an impactful combination of deep-seated knowledge, enriching experiences and strategic opportunities from the front lines of entrepreneurship and alternative investment. Students' learning experiences are further enhanced through internships, entrepreneurial clubs, business competitions, and campus-wide events that foster valuable networking and engage the business community. The Institute's five student-led investment funds, with over $10M under management, immerse students in the entrepreneurial business sourcing, assessment and investment process while pursuing their graduate or undergraduate degree at the Ross School of Business. For more information, visit the Institute's website at www.zli.umich.edu.

SOURCE Zell Lurie Institute University of Michigan