Finding and funding the best opportunities in the multi-trillion-dollar alcohol & vice industries

At Top Shelf Ventures, we find, fund, and accelerate the best opportunities in broader alcoholic beverage and vice categories. Run by two industry experts, our team brings extensive industry knowledge and a passion for innovation to every partnership.

A wall of diverse liquor bottles behind a modern bar, capturing the wide variety of spirits brands in the industry. Image by Paolo Bendandi.

ACCELERATING PREMIUM ALCOHOL BRANDS

MAXIMIZING INVESTOR RETURNS

Founding Partners

Jason Sherman

Co-Founder

Founding member of AB InBev's global venture arm, where he helped lead ~$1B of acquisitions across 200+ investments over 3 years. Solo-founded and exited TapRm, the nation's fastest growing alcohol company (Inc 5000), and the leading beer ecommerce/distribution technology and fulfillment startup. Davis Polk & Wardwell, Harvard College, Harvard Law.

Noah Sanborn Friedman

Co-Founder

Seasoned vice industry investor & operator. Co-founder of the prominent Uncharted founder/investor community. Former COO of an alcohol analytics business that processed billions in receipt-level transaction data from retailers nationwide. Early investor/advisor to multiple brands including Long Drink.

Connect With Us

The Top Shelf Ecosystem

Top Shelf seeks brands on the cusp of explosion and accelerates our portfolio with:

Deep Distributor Network

Access to Premier Retailers

Operational Support

Market Research + Inights

Legal + Regulatory Assistance

Hiring + Access to Talent

The back wall of a bar displaying an array of various liquors and whiskey. Image by Frank Albrecht

Select Portfolio Companies

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Portfolio Spotlight

Gratsi has become the market leader of premium boxed wine.

Launched in 2021, the business has exploded to multiple 8 figures in revenue with tens of thousands of online subscribers and a rapidly expanding retail footprint. Top Shelf led the seed round in 2022.

Try Gratsi