We are an early-stage venture fund investing in innovative consumer and tech brands shaping the future of Health & Wellness.

Gaia Equity Partners

OUR TEAM

Melissa Spaen

Melissa Spaen

  • Melissa is a Dutch national based in Athens, with strong ties to Amsterdam and New York.

    She brings 10+ years of investment banking experience, focused on the Consumer & Retail and Tech, Media & Telecom sectors.

    Most recently, she was a Managing Director at Evercore in New York specializing in Food & Beverages and Health & Wellness.

    Melissa started her career at Deutsche Bank in Amsterdam and New York.

    She holds a MSc in Financial Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a BSc in International Business from Maastricht University.

    “As a mom, I live Wellness every day. From healthy meals to custom supplements and Pilates, self-care is woven into every part of my life. That’s why Gaia is so personal to me — it’s not just work, but my passion.”

Sanam Mechkat

Sanam Mechkat

  • Sanam is a a New Yorker with Persian-Swiss roots, based in London with active presence in Geneva and New York.

    She brings 10+ years of experience in Consumer & Retail investment banking and strategic advisory.

    Most recently, she was a Senior Vice President at Evercore in New York, advising leading brands in Consumer Health, Food & Beverages, Beauty, and Retail.

    Since 2021, Sanam has been part of the Expert Network at Female Founders Fund, mentoring early-stage, female-led businesses.

    She holds an MBA from NYU’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a BA from Wesleyan University.

    “As an integrative health coach and registered yoga teacher living with a serious autoimmune condition, I’ve seen firsthand the need for better solutions — and I’m passionate about supporting the founders building them.”

Wall Street meets VC.

We started our journey in investment banking, working together as founding members of Evercore’s US Consumer & Retail team. We advised 100+ companies on growth, M&A and capital strategy — from strategic acquisitions and PE buyouts to IPOs and founder-led sales. We gained inside access to companies of every size and helped founders build business plans, shape equity stories, and prepare for raises or exits. 

Along the way, we saw a clear shift: consumers demanding healthier, more sustainable, and more meaningful products. Moving to Europe, we witnessed the same evolution, but at a slower pace than the US, with far fewer sector-specialists. Gaia was born out of a vision to bridge that gap.

It’s our mission to back the next generation of European Health & Wellness leaders.

Purpose

driven.



Our name refers to the Greek goddess of Earth and reflects our core belief that businesses rooted in wellbeing — of people, communities, and the environment — outperform over time.  

OUR M&A RECORD

With over $50B in advisory transactions, we know what it takes to scale and exit great consumer brands, and what buyers value most.

Nestlé logo featuring a bird on a nest with a branch
Diageo logo in green text on a dark background
Keurig Dr Pepper logo in dark green
Monster Energy logo with three claw marks and the brand name
US Foods logo with green text and design elements
Conagra Brands logo featuring a stylized plant above the company name.
Pinnacle Foods Inc. logo with green and white text
Cetaphil logo on a background with green and gray ovals.
Energizer logo in black and green
The logo of 'Nature's Bounty', a supplement brand, featuring the brand name in green font with a leaf design.
Nutrabolt logo with a stylized 'N' symbol
Spectrum logo in green and black text.
Logo of IPSY, a beauty subscription service with stylized green letters
Rayovac logo in black and green text with a circular arrow symbol
Champion logo text in black on a white background
The logo of D'Ussé, a cognac brand.
Athletic Brewing Co logo with green text and a stylized leaf design.
Ciroc logo in black and white
Farm Boy logo with a boy holding a carrot, wearing a hat, and the text 'Farm Boy' underneath
Red Robin logo with stylized red robin bird and green text
Logo of Sugar Foods Corporation with a stylized geometric design and company name
Logo for Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective featuring a stylized eye within a diamond shape and bold text for Canarchy.
Noosa logo with lowercase green text
The word 'Plum' written in elegant cursive font
Campbell's logo in green cursive font
Green text spelling 'MARS'
Bacardi logo with green bat emblem and text
The word 'authentic' written in large lowercase letters with 'AUTHENTIC BRANDS GROUP' in smaller font below.
Cracker Barrel logo with a man holding a tray in front of a barrel
The logo of Vita Coco Company featuring stylized coconuts within the text.
RAO'S HOMEMADE logo in green text
Duckhorn Vineyards logo
The words 'PRETTY LITTER' in black and green text.
EYEMART EXPRESS logo
Pabst logo in cursive script
RUGS USA logo in dark green text

Wellness

first.



Health & Wellness is more than our investment focus, it’s our way of life. Certified health coach and yoga teacher. Mother of two. We live the values we invest in.

OUR FOCUS

Where consumers, health, and technology come together.

We back impact-driven brands with strong growth potential — companies that care, empower consumers to take control of their health, and create lasting value for the world around them.

Our typical investments are Seed to Series A stage in UK or EU-based ventures with a global mindset and a commitment to diversity and sustainability.

OUR EDGE

Our support goes beyond writing checks, we’re hands-on partners every step of the way.

  • Decades of working closely with hundreds of brands means we know what drives success, and what doesn’t.

  • We bring strategies from the world’s most advanced Health & Wellness market to Europe.

  • With strong ties to investors, operators, and experts on both sides of the Atlantic, we help companies expand with precision.

  • We bring diverse perspectives and back founders who are reshaping the industry with equity at the core.

  • From acquisitions to IPOs, we know the buyers, the pathways, and how to get to strong outcomes.

Let’s build a new era in Health & Wellness.

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