2024 True Holiday Gift Guide

Let’s take a break from our regularly scheduled programming of tech ecosystem insights and scaling startups to return to the nostalgia of wrapping a gift in (recycled) paper and handing it to a deserving friend. This year’s holiday gift guide featuring consumer goods from the True Ventures Portfolio includes a spicy syrup, accessories you can experience through a cocktail bar-like atmosphere, an ultra-layerable jacket, and a few less expected surprises for the maker types in your life.  We’ve sorted them by gift type for stress-free shopping.

Everyday Indulgences

Everyone loves a gourmet food gift. Get them Ghetto Gastro‘s Spicy Maple Syrup for topping waffles, chicken, and toast. It’s made with a custom blend of Scotch Bonnet Peppers, Habanero Pepper, African Piri Piri Pepper, and organic dark maple syrup from trees in the state of New York. Hear the story behind the brand.

Live in L.A. or the Hawaiian Islands? We hope you’ve already tried Holey Grail Donuts. If not, order yourself a dozen taro donuts made with coconut oil. They come in imaginative flavors like the holiday seasonal Naughty List (with vanilla bean and char-coal cookie crumble), Hail Mary (with cardamom and rose), and Makrut Lime Leaf Coconut. Shown above: Breaking Bread donut collaborators Zach Braff and Donald Faison. Holey Grail’s got gift cards too.

Self-Care Sanctuaries 

Restore 2, Hatch’s smart sleep assistant, now comes in a calming Sage colorway for winding down after a long day of startup grind. Gift it to a founder who needs a reminder to rest and reset. It features a customizable sunset, gentle sleep sounds, and a sunrise alarm. 

For those of us anticipating holiday sweets, lean into Feno, the new smart toothbrush and app that uplevels preventative oral care and gives you real insight into mouth health in between dentist visits.

Madison Reed’s ColorWonder hair color is demi-permanent (lasts up to 25 washes), so pick a shade anywhere from Pink-Violet to Silver Steel and surprise a family member with the chance to try a new look for that holiday dinner party. The company has been using AI and AR since 2016 to help customers choose the right hair color. You can also share a Madison Reed gift card – good for services or product. 

Help a friend hack their health with Pendulum’s Metabolic Daily featuring next-generation strains of probiotics. It naturally replenishes your gut microbiome. Did you know Halle Berry loves it? She’s their chief communications officer and an investor. 

Pet care got easier with Modern Animal’s tech-forward take on veterinary care with clinic locations in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, and the Bay Area. View membership info and consider gifting your favorite pet parent a membership.  

Style Upgrades

Style your home with Ernesta, the custom-cut rug company co-founded by Peloton’s John Foley. Order a sample box before the holiday and dress up your space in a number of bold and subtle patterns and colorways. 

GiftShop empowers small businesses to create, market, and sell their own merch both in store and online. Snag the Service Works Tan Market Smock or Atangana Records Unisex T-shirt that were created in collaboration with the French institution of a wine bar Le Verre Volé in Paris. 

Jewelry brand Cast partnered with Issa Rae to launch a new line of jewelry: the Braeve Collection. Snag The Bare Armor Cuff as a gift, or for yourself, and layer away. If shopping for yourself, try it on at a Cast boutique for a cocktail bar-like shopping experience. 

Creating for Creating’s Sake

Inventables’ next-gen X-Carve gives inventor types what they need to create without limits. If you’ve got a family member or friend with a workshop, they may just need this CNC machine to complete it. 

If your favorite merry maker is more into crafting than craftsmanship, gift them a Glowforge Aura. They can score, cut, and engrave materials of all types, turning their ideas into dollhouses, decorative lamp shades, embossed leather accessories, and more. 

Great Escapes

Bigscreen Beyond, the world’s smallest VR headset, is the only excuse you need to plug in then disconnect. Each headset is custom-built to fit the shape of your recipient’s face for extra comfort. They can watch a movie, socialize, or play games, depending on their flavor of leisure. Place your order and it’ll ship in a week.  

See our list of attributes of modern consumer brands from 2019 here. Think our list still stands strong today, half a decade later? We welcome debate.