John Lilly has an extensive background in business management, for both large and small
companies. He built more than 50 branded businesses in 25 countries over 27 years as an
executive at Procter & Gamble and then as CEO of The Pillsbury Company. John began his
career at P&G in 1976 and was responsible at one time or another for almost all of Procter’s
laundry, paper, food and beverage brands. This culminated in a six-year assignment as
Regional Vice President in Frankfurt, Germany, where John had managerial scope for the
paper and beverage businesses in P&G’s Europe, Middle East and Africa Division. His P&G
experience base includes responsibility for Pampers, Pringles, Always, Folgers, Gain, Duncan
Hines, Sunny Delight, Dawn and Attends.
In 1997, Mr. Lilly left P&G to join The Pillsbury Company in Minneapolis, first as President of
Pillsbury North America and then as CEO for The Pillsbury Company worldwide. Pillsbury was
a $6.8B manufacturer of such brands as Pillsbury, Green Giant, Haagen-Dazs, Totino’s, Old
El Paso and Progresso. Pillsbury had leading retail and foodservice businesses in 25
countries including China and India. The company was sold to General Mills in 2002 for
$10.5B (12.2X EBITDA), in what is broadly seen as a highly successful transaction.
After Pillsbury became part of General Mills, Mr. Lilly changed careers to work full time as an
investor/advisor. Between 2003 and 2016, John Lilly Strategic Insights, LLC (JLSI),
provided investment sourcing, due diligence and operating counsel on more than 200 Private
Equity and Venture Capital projects in the U.S., Europe and Israel. He has advised Calera
Capital, TPG Capital, TPG Growth, Goldman Sachs PIA, Centerbridge Partners and EGI, the
fund of Sam Zell. As a FINRA registered representative, he has advised Compass Advisers,
Lehman Brothers, Duff & Phelps and Morgan Joseph TriArtisan on dozens of transactions.
Today, John works exclusively as a full-time investor in Early Stage Companies. Through
Lateral Capital Management LLC (LCM) and its associated Limited Partnerships, he is one
of the country’s most active Micro Venture Capital investors. Lateral Capital has invested in
more than 100 companies in seven Funds in a wide range of industries; across 25 states.
Lateral Capital investments are identified through Angel/Accelerator groups across the U.S.,
where John makes frequent presentations on Sustainably Profitable Early Stage Investing
(SPESI™). Invested companies range from tire pressure management for trucks and
concussion assessment software to drone freight airplanes and a treatment for Alzheimer’s.
Beginning with Fund IV, Lateral Capital has been open to accredited Limited Partners. Lateral
Capital IV made its final investment in 24 companies in Summer 2018. Lateral Capital V,
launched in early-2019, completed investments in 30 companies in December 2020. Lateral
Capital VI completed investments in 30 companies in May 2022. Lateral Capital Opportunity
Fund launched in March 2024. More information for accredited investors and Family Offices
available from michelle.ballentine@lateralcapital.com.