Ace of Cups

aceofcups.vc

Exclusively invests in no & low-ABV specialty beverages designed for wine occasions, with particular focus on gourmet products featuring drinks with 'soul, complexity, flavor and purpose.' As of 2025, the focus has narrowed specifically to single-origin tea expressions, from Mizudashi-style brews to pét-nat teas.

Check Size

Not specified

Stages

Pre Seed, Seed

Focus Areas

Consumer, Food Beverage

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Investment Thesis

Roman Sydorenko runs Ace of Cups as a personal investment practice with a curated, hands-on approach. He invests his own capital first and selectively co-invests with like-minded individuals from his network only when genuinely excited about a deal. This reflects a quality-over-quantity philosophy focused on early-stage brands with authentic vision rather than volume-based investing.

What Sets Them Apart

Single investor with deep expertise: Founder of dating app PURE (sold 2022), bringing 10+ years of startup building experience
Deeply specialized niche focus: No & low-ABV beverages exclusively, with refined 2025 focus on gourmet specialty beverages for wine occasions
Personal capital first approach: Invests own money before inviting co-investors, ensuring alignment and genuine conviction
Founder/artist-focused: Portfolio includes artists and creatives like Walker Brengel (BOUCHE founder, graduate of Universität der Künste)
Thought leadership platform: Writing book 'Beyond Wine' (March 2026) with 20+ producer profiles, 100+ bottle atlas, and restaurant case studies