We’re thrilled to share a major milestone for ICA and one of our portfolio companies: the successful exit of our investments in Just Date.

Since joining the ICA portfolio in 2022, Just Date has grown from a physician-founded mission into a nationally recognized, health-conscious food brand.

Founded by Dr. Sylvie Charles Royston after witnessing firsthand the link between refined sugar and chronic illness, Just Date set out to offer a better way to sweeten food: using upcycled organic dates to create nutrient-dense alternatives rich in fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.

During our partnership, the team demonstrated what’s possible when strong fundamentals are paired with founder-friendly capital and hands-on support:

• Product innovation: The launch of date-sweetened dark chocolate chips joined the velocity of their core syrup at Whole Foods Market.
• Supply chain resilience: The company navigated complex manufacturing transitions, stabilizing production with new partners, with support from Hatcheri Foods, whom ICA introduced.
• Social impact: Just Date maintained a team 100% managed and operated by women, with a deep commitment to hiring underrepresented talent.

Building in the CPG market is not easy. It requires resilience, discipline, and operational rigor. Together, we worked to strengthen financial systems, navigate industry headwinds, and position the company for long-term success.

The company will now continue in a strategic partnership with private equity firm Contour Ridge, with Sylvie remaining integral to continued operations. We’re proud of the role ICA played in helping the team realize a successful growth strategy. This is exactly why ICA exists.

Great businesses are often overlooked by mainstream finance, not because they lack demand or vision, but because they lack equitable access to capital and strategic partnership. Our model is designed to close that gap: investing in revenue-generating companies rooted in the real economy, strengthening their foundations, and helping founders build durable enterprises that create jobs and community wealth.

Just Date’s journey is a powerful example of investing done differently, generating strong returns while delivering meaningful impact.

Congratulations to Sylvie and the entire Just Date team on this next chapter. We’re honored to have been part of the story.

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30 Years of ICA Fund

This year, ICA Fund celebrates 30 years of backing great businesses and proving what’s possible when underrepresented founders get the support they deserve. To mark this occasion we will be lifting up the ICA Fund community that got us this far and charting the bold work ahead. Stay tuned for new founder stories, case studies on the innovations our portfolio companies are creating, and deep dives on how our model works. Stay in touch.