Buckle Me Baby Wins CPGrow ’25 Pitch Competition, Secures $250K in Inventory Financing
Buckle Kickfurther, the leading inventory funding platform for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, has announced the winner of the CPGrow 2025 pitch competition. This annual event serves as a platform for emerging CPG brands to present their innovative products and demonstrate their growth potential, offering them a unique opportunity to secure vital inventory financing.
The Buckle 2025 competition saw an impressive 698 applications, nearly 300 more than the previous year, highlighting its growing significance in the industry. Out of this competitive pool, five finalists were selected to participate in the live event, where they shared their founder stories, business vision, and financial strategies. The judging panel evaluated these companies based on their financial stability, scalability, and overall impact on the market.
The Buckle winner of this year’s CPGrow pitch competition is Buckle Me Baby Coats, a company dedicated to simplifying parents’ lives with innovative car seat coats, blankets, and blowout blockers. Founder and CEO Dahlia Rizk expressed her excitement and gratitude for the recognition and funding opportunity. “I’m honored to be chosen and really excited to help so many more families with easy car seat safety both through coats and pajamas with this funding prize,” she said. The $250,000 in no-cost inventory funding will enable Buckle Me Baby Coats to scale production, mitigate stockouts, and increase top-line revenue without additional advertising expenditures.
In addition to the grand prize, winners also received exclusive support from Kickfurther’s partners, including ShipBob, Cin7, Forecastr, Hawke Media, RangeMe, eComEngine, and Power to Pitch. These resources are designed to provide essential business tools and strategies to help growing CPG brands optimize their operations and accelerate their market presence.
The runner-up in the competition, Freestyle Snacks, a premium olive snack brand offering hassle-free gourmet flavors, secured $75,000 in no-cost inventory funding. Other notable finalists included:
- DTOCS – A company committed to sustainability, offering eco-friendly, single-use dinnerware as an alternative to plastic.
- FTL – A brand that has redefined travel and business accessories with an innovative duffel bag that also functions as a garment bag and briefcase.
- BlueHenry – A provider of high-quality dried fruit garnishes, rimming salts, and sugars for cocktail enthusiasts and professionals.
Sean De Clercq, Founder and CEO of Kickfurther, emphasized the importance of passion, resilience, and creativity in entrepreneurship. “We believe grit, passion, and creativity are the cornerstones of entrepreneurial growth,” he stated. “We are incredibly excited to provide a platform for emerging brands to showcase their groundbreaking products and fuel their journey towards success.”
In addition to the primary competition, a special category—the Rising Brand award—was introduced to recognize smaller companies with less than $400,000 in revenue. The winner of this category was Coba Coffee, which was awarded $15,000 in no-cost inventory funding, reinforcing Kickfurther’s commitment to supporting up-and-coming businesses in their early growth stages.
The CPGrow 2025 pitch competition took place virtually on March 19, 2025, and was live-streamed for a broader audience. The panel of judges included notable industry leaders such as Le’Spencer Walker, Director of Target Accelerators: Activation & Growth; Danielle Blount, Partner at BOLD Ventures; and Josh Feine, General Partner at Forma Capital.
As Kickfurther continues to empower CPG brands through innovative funding solutions, the success of the CPGrow 2025 competition underscores the company’s dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and driving growth in the consumer goods industry. By providing no-cost inventory financing and strategic business support, Kickfurther is helping emerging brands navigate the challenges of scaling while ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.
