Bringing you the best
chocolate in the world.
PARTNER
Inaru
CATEGORY
Food & Beverage
Gallery
01
Where we started
Founded by sisters Janett and Erika Liriano, Inaru supplies premium cacao products from the Dominican Republic through an inclusive model for ethical agriculture. With a lengthy supply chain, the global cacao industry currently reserves little profit for the original farmer, who is reliant on numerous middlemen to sell to the eventual end producer. By elevating farmers and removing unnecessary middlemen and markups along the way, the company is purposefully building an ecosystem that unlocks ownership of the entire cacao production cycle – creating a business and brand that puts the farmer first.
02
What we did
West established a brand positioning and three phased strategy to reach Inaru’s distinct audiences, in the right places and at the right time. From local farmers, producers, and community stakeholders, to cacao buyers and eventually consumers, West developed an extensive audience ecosystem map outlining the needs for each audience and the corresponding touchpoint strategies for every phase.
Informed by the extensive ecosystem map, West then designed a brand identity that serves Inaru in both present and future. With a system that caters to the immediate business and growth needs, and ultimately the end consumer, Inaru’s visual identity communicates the message, value, and promise of Inaru.
03
Where are they now
Inaru first announced the close of a $750,000 pre-seed round with investors including The Helm, MarsBio, and Soylent founder Rob Rhinehart. In June of 2023, they raised a $3.57 million seed round led by 1517 Fund, The Helm, MarsBio Management, and Chaos Ventures (New York). Rob Rhinehart and Sorenson Impact Foundation also participated in this more recent round.
The company is actively building its pilot refinery, hiring, and actively talking to leads for its next round, which will be a growth phase.
See where you can go with West.
West has over 12 years of experience working with venture-backed startups in nearly every B2C and B2B sector.
We know how to work under resource constraints and adapt to changing conditions. We focus on strategies that grow enterprise value in the eyes of the market and investors. We bring the rigor of a consulting firm to the creative process.
@2024 West Global