The future of consumer health is being built right now.
Consumers are becoming the CEOs of their own healthcare. From GLP-1s and peptides to protein, wearables, functional foods, and preventative wellness, entire industries are being reshaped by changing consumer behavior.
In this episode, Mike sits down with Nicolas McCoy, Managing Director of Whipstitch Capital, to unpack the biggest trends driving consumer health, food & beverage, supplements, wellness, and M&A. Nick spends his time analyzing what separates niche brands from the companies that break into the mainstream and get acquired.
They discuss why better-for-you products continue to outperform, how GLP-1 adoption is changing consumer spending habits, the rise of peptides and hormone optimization, why protein isn't slowing down anytime soon, and what strategic buyers are looking for in today's market.
Nick also shares his framework for evaluating brand headroom, explains why profitability matters more than ever in consumer M&A, and breaks down how founders should think about timing an exit.
You'll learn:
✅ Why consumers are becoming the CEOs of their own healthcare
✅ How GLP-1s are changing food, supplements, and wellness
✅ Why better-for-you products continue to outperform the market
✅ The future of peptides, hormones, and preventative health
✅ How investors evaluate brand headroom and acquisition potential
✅ Why some brands successfully cross from natural to mass retail
✅ The growing role of wearables in consumer health
✅ Why protein is still growing and where it goes next
✅ How strategic buyers think about acquisitions today
✅ What founders should know before trying to sell their company
If you're a founder, investor, operator, or simply curious about where consumer health is headed over the next decade, this episode is packed with data, trends, and practical insights.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:11 Consumers becoming the CEOs of their healthcare
06:07 The state of consumer M&A today
09:48 Why profitability matters more than ever
12:09 How to know when to sell your company
13:51 Understanding brand headroom
17:11 Which retail channels create the most value
20:00 Crossing from natural to mass retail
24:30 The K-shaped consumer economy explained
27:45 Why lower-income consumers are adopting health trends faster
29:13 The surprising growth of injectable health products
32:40 RFK Jr., MAHA, and peptide awareness
34:42 The future impact of GLP-1 adoption
37:26 Protein's next phase of growth
39:24 The future of peptides and personalized health
42:17 Why injections are becoming more mainstream
44:31 The rise of gummies as a supplement format
48:19 Women's hormone health opportunities
51:31 Mental health, wellness, and consumer behavior
53:23 Are founders selling because they want to or have to?
54:36 Is the consumer market back?
57:06 The growing role of private equity in CPG
59:23 The evolution of billion-dollar consumer exits
01:01:17 Why more capital is flowing into consumer brands
01:02:13 Categories Nick is watching closely
01:07:51 Personal experiences that shaped Nick's career
01:11:15 Closing thoughts
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