# Michael Mauze

> Michael Mauze is the Co-Founder and General Partner of VMG Partners, a San Francisco-based consumer-focused growth equity firm he co-founded in 2005. With a career spanning investment banking at PaineWebber and Lehman Brothers to private equity at TSG Consumer Partners, Mauze has spent decades backing consumer brands before 'consumer' became the hottest word in venture capital. VMG has backed over 60 brands including Spindrift, Drunk Elephant, KIND Snacks, and Daily Harvest, and closed its sixth fund at $1 billion in 2025. Beyond the portfolio, Mauze is known for his jazz philanthropy, a five-year cross-country bicycle odyssey, and a $3 million gift to his alma mater Davidson College.

- **Role:** General Partner at VMG Partners
- **Organizations:** VMG Partners, SFJAZZ, Davidson College Board of Trustees (donor), VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp.
- **From:** St. Louis, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A. in Economics, Davidson College, M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance, Columbia University
- **Known for:** Co-founded VMG Partners in 2005, growing it to a $1 billion fund by 2025, Led or supported investments in 60+ consumer brands including KIND Snacks, Drunk Elephant, Spindrift, and Daily Harvest, Served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at SFJAZZ (2015-2018)

## Career timeline

- **1985** — Graduated from Davidson College with B.A. in Economics
- **1988** — Completed M.B.A. from Columbia University
- **1988** — Joined PaineWebber as investment banker in M&A, consumer and retail focus
- **1990s** — Moved to Lehman Brothers as investment banker advising consumer and retail companies
- **2003** — Joined TSG Consumer Partners as Managing Director
- **2005** — Co-founded VMG Partners, a consumer-focused growth equity firm
- **2015** — Donated $3 million to Davidson College for new academic building; terrace named in their honor
- **2015** — Named Chairman of the Board of Trustees at SFJAZZ
- **2018** — Completed tenure as SFJAZZ Chairman; remained on Board of Trustees
- **2019** — Established Mauzé Scholars Program at Davidson College
- **2021** — Named Chairman of the Board of VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp. SPAC (IPO of $200M)
- **2025** — VMG Partners closes Consumer Fund VI at $1 billion
- **2026** — Robin Tsai elevated to Managing Partner to co-lead VMG alongside Mauze

## Achievements

- Co-founded VMG Partners in 2005, growing it to a $1 billion fund by 2025
- Led or supported investments in 60+ consumer brands including KIND Snacks, Drunk Elephant, Spindrift, and Daily Harvest
- Served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at SFJAZZ (2015-2018)
- Donated $3 million to Davidson College for new academic building (Mauzé Terrace)
- Established the Mauzé Scholars Program at Davidson College
- Chaired the VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp. SPAC, which IPO'd at $200 million in 2021
- Completed a 3,400-mile cross-country bicycle trip over five years tracing personal life locations
- Built VMG into one of the most recognized consumer-focused growth equity firms in the US

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Featured on the Double Take Podcast discussing VMG's growth investing philosophy and the consumer product space
- **2026-01** — Robin Tsai elevated to Managing Partner to co-lead VMG alongside Mauze, signaling leadership evolution at the firm
- **2025-05** — VMG Partners closes Consumer Fund VI at $1 billion, its largest fund to date
- **2021-11** — VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp. (SPAC) IPO'd at $200 million with Mauze as Chairman

## Links

- Website: https://vmgpartners.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mauze-1391b2110
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/vmg-partners-100389501345297

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-mauze
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-18