Why I Invested: Tony Hawk on investing in Holey Grail Donuts

Among the many cult following is professional skater Tony Hawk, an entrepreneur in his personal proper as proprietor of the skateboard model Birdhouse. Hawk joined as an investor in Holey Grail as a part of the corporate’s just lately accomplished Sequence A spherical, which raised $9 million that will likely be put forth to develop to mainland places in Los Angeles.

Hawk just lately shared extra with Fortune about his determination to spend money on the corporate.

• Startup: Holey Grail Donuts
• Location: Hanalei, Hawaii
• 12 months based: 2018
• Valuation: Declined to reveal
• Funding stage: Sequence A
• Variety of workers: 36
• Different main traders: Craig Shapiro at Collaborative Fund, Lee Fixel, Tony Conrad at True Ventures, James Freeman (Blue Bottle), Ligaya Tichy (Yelp, Airbnb) Christopher Kostow (Michelin-star chef), Hass Hassan (Entire Meals), Stephan Jenkins (Third Eye Blind), Yves Behar (Designer, Fuseproject), and Matt Mullenweg (WordPress)

Why he invested, in his personal phrases

I’m at all times looking out for good eats, and I’m particularly excited once I see somebody doing a artistic tackle a meals I do know and love. After I found Holey Grail Donuts, I used to be instantly intrigued. It represents all the pieces I search for within the meals I like: nice style, at the beginning, however made with higher high quality substances than your common donuts. They’re actively reinventing many points of the donut trade with a real method to sourcing and manufacturing just like a few of my favourite espresso outlets and eating places.

For me to get excited sufficient to spend money on a meals enterprise, the place to begin is that the product tastes nice. I’m additionally aware about what I put in my physique, so the mixture of tasting one thing scrumptious, and realizing it’s truly made with high-quality substances that I don’t need to really feel responsible about consuming, is the proper combo. Holey Grail Donuts are made contemporary for each order, in order that they’re heat and crispy, with out being overly oily or greasy.

They’re additionally made with taro, an historic root crop grown all through the tropics that’s wealthy in nutritional vitamins and antioxidants. And you may’t discover Holey Grail donut flavors anyplace else; they rotate their menu weekly utilizing seasonal substances, so that you’ll nearly at all times attempt one thing new and totally different upon every go to. I nonetheless love a traditional donut, however utilizing native substances which can be in season to create donut flavors like North Shore (native tangelo, turmeric, black pepper) and Lydgate Farms (native vanilla bean glaze garnished with cacao nibs and acerola cherry) is an expertise price searching for out.

Lastly, as an investor, I’m finally in search of companies that may develop and achieve success. Location-specific meals companies could be difficult, since a number of the finest locations are ones that mirror and help the communities they’re in. Holey Grail has a mission-focused method to development that, mixed with their distinctive donuts and workforce, I consider will cause them to success. They plan to remain true to their roots on Kauai by sourcing sure substances like their taro from Hawaii farmers, and by constructing their provide chain for native produce and substances wherever they go. This method ensures the donuts and expertise will at all times keep contemporary and fascinating. And I’m proud to be alongside for the trip.