Forum Brands

About Forum Brands

Forum Brands operates as a technology-driven e-commerce acquisition platform, focusing on purchasing and scaling digital-native brands. Founded in the summer of 2020 by Brenton Howland, Ruben Amar, and Alex Kopco, the company identifies and acquires high-potential, independently owned businesses, primarily those utilizing Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). The business then applies its operational infrastructure and expertise to grow these acquisitions into enduring, omnichannel category leaders.

The founding team combines extensive experience in e-commerce, technology investing, and management consulting. Brenton Howland, co-founder and CEO, previously worked at McKinsey & Company, advising Fortune 500 consumer and retail companies, and was part of the founding team at private equity fund Cove Hill Partners. Co-founder Ruben Amar brings a background in investment banking and growth private equity, specializing in buy-and-build strategies for consumer and tech companies. This collective experience from firms like Amazon, Target, and McKinsey uniquely positions them to address the scaling challenges faced by digital entrepreneurs.

Forum Brands' business model revolves around acquiring brands and then leveraging technology and data science to accelerate their growth. The company makes money by operating the brands it acquires and increasing their value and market reach. Its proprietary technology platform uses advanced algorithms and over 60 million data points to score potential acquisitions in real-time, allowing for rapid evaluation. The decision to acquire a brand can be made within 48 hours, with entrepreneurs receiving payment in 30 days or less. The firm's focus is on brands in the Pet, Family, Health & Personal Care, Home & Kitchen, Sports & Outdoor, and Patio & Garden categories. Recent acquisitions include skincare brand Ever and period care brand Lola, strengthening its portfolio in the health and wellness sector.

The company's core service is providing an exit opportunity for e-commerce entrepreneurs while ensuring a legacy for their creations. Once a brand is acquired, Forum Brands implements playbooks and analytics to drive growth and expand beyond Amazon into other sales channels. The company has secured significant funding to fuel its acquisition strategy, including a $27 million Series A round in June 2021 and a $100 million debt facility in September 2021.