Cadootz, the better-for-you kids' snack brand founded by food entrepreneur, creator, cookbook author, and Co-CEO Rachel Mansfield and her husband, Co-CEO Jordan Carpenter, recently announced it has raised $3M+ in seed funding to fuel the brand's next phase of growth.

The round was led by Selva Ventures, an early-stage fund that invests in BFY brands such as Mid-Day Squares and Grüns. Selva Ventures was founded by Kiva Dickinson, who is also a co-founder of Cadootz. The round also had participation from additional strategic investors aligned with the brand's mission to redefine better-for-you snacking for families.

Since launching direct-to-consumer in January, Cadootz's debut line of crackers has seen immediate demand, the brand notes, with its first production run selling out in under two hours—reflecting strong early product-market fit and the enthusiasm of Mansfield's engaged community, it adds.

Cadootz was created to solve a familiar challenge for modern families: finding snacks that kids love and parents feel good about, it says. The brand's debut line of savory crackers—available in Cheddar, Sea Salt, and Ranch—delivers 5 g of protein per serving and is certified organic, gluten-free, kosher, seed oil-free, and made without gums, emulsifiers, artificial dyes, or natural flavors. Cadootz is also reportedly the first cracker to receive the Clean Label Project Purity Award certification.

The newly raised capital will support the brand's upcoming national retail launch in June, in partnership with a major, to-be-announced retailer, which will make it easier for busy families to find Cadootz where they already shop. Its retail launch will also debut a new, family-friendly pack-type.

"Cadootz has all the makings of a category-defining, generational brand," says Kiva Dickinson, founder and managing partner at Selva Ventures and co-founder of Cadootz. "We believe Cadootz will become the ultimate shorthand for trust in kids' snacking: a modern-day seal of approval for what families should feel good about. Rachel and Jordan aren't building a product, they're building the platform that will set the standard across every format, every occasion, and every pantry."

Development of Cadootz began in 2023, drawing on Mansfield's more than decade-long career in the better-for-you food space and an engaged community of over 1.5 million followers. Alongside building Cadootz, she is the author of Just The Good Stuff and the forthcoming More Please! cookbooks, and together with Carpenter, co-founded grt sht ventures, through which they have invested in more than 25 emerging consumer brands.

Ahead of its expanded distribution rolling out nationwide beginning this summer, Cadootz is currently available on cadootz.com and on Amazon.

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