Before founding Dr. Bombay, Snoop Dogg used to combine multiple ice cream flavors to create the perfect fusion. Frustrated by the lack of innovation,  he wanted to build a brand that felt more playful and culturally relevant. That vision brought him together with serial entrepreneur Sam Rockwell.

Rockwell had spent years building consumer brands within the food and beverage industry. The pair launched Dr. Bombay, a better-for-you ice cream brand centered on bold flavors, cultural storytelling, and strong retail placement. Rapper Lil Baby has now also joined as an investor and partner. 

Dr. Bombay’s recipes feature less lactose than traditional ice creams, allowing people to indulge without feeling guilty about calories. The flavors are inspired by 90s West Coast, Hip Hop culture, and infused with sherbet for an extra kick. Currently, they have baked blueberry muffins, peanut butter jelly time, strawberry cream dream, tropical sherbet swizzle, and iced out orange dream-flavored ice creams. 

“Dr. Bombay has always been about creating something that lives at the intersection of culture and product. We’re building a brand that people connect with beyond just what’s in the pint. 1248 Angels understood that vision early, which made them a natural partner for us,” Sam Rockwell, the CEO and co-Founder of Dr. Bombay, told UrbanGeekz. 

Dr. Bombay entered the market with major cultural capital. Snoop Dogg commands nearly 200 million followers across social platforms, while Lil Baby remains one of the most commercially influential artists in hip hop. For Stewart, that level of visibility creates a meaningful advantage in reducing customer acquisition costs and accelerating brand awareness. 

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The Future of Dr. Bombay

With its investment from 1248 Angels, Dr. Bombay is preparing for its next stage of growth. The company plans to expand beyond pints into smaller, on-the-go formats, including popsicles and mini cups. The company is growing their experiential strategy through a partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, opening distribution opportunities across concerts and live events. International expansion is also underway through licensing partnerships in markets like France.

The Founder Behind the Investment 

Growing up, De’Havia Stewart saw the power of investment firsthand. She watched her aunt invest disposable income into real estate, building a portfolio that later supported the family when her husband was unable to work. The experience shaped Stewart’s understanding of how calculated investments can create long-term wealth and stability.

While in college, Stewart discovered venture capital through HBCUvc, a fellowship focused on increasing the number of students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities entering the VC industry.

“People tend to invest in people that are similar to them, because we all have our own biases. If we don’t have enough diverse check writers, then capital will continue to go to the same types of people,” Stewart told UrbanGeekz. The fellowship became a launchpad for her career and deepened her commitment to expanding access to financial services and venture capital.

By 2020, Stewart was building her experience across major firms and organizations, including SoftBank, The BLK Foundation, BLCK VC, and Serena Ventures. 

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1248 Angels 

After years at major investment firms, Stewart had sharpened her understanding of how capital moves and who is often left behind. In 2023, Stewart founded 1248 Angels on a mission to expand access to venture capital for underrepresented investors and founders alike.

The firm is building a portfolio focused on scalable businesses across healthcare, financial services, consumer essentials, and business enablement. 1248 Angels has already backed five startups, with an emphasis on mission-driven businesses and diverse founding teams.

Beyond Writing Checks

However, Stewart says the work goes beyond simply writing checks. 1248 Angels also educates investors on how venture capital works, helping newcomers understand the industry before presenting curated investment opportunities. Today, the community includes roughly 200 accredited investors, many of whom had never invested in venture capital before joining. Stewart says nearly half have now written their first VC check through 1248 Angels. “A very large portion of those investors are black, in which when we tell people that, they are shocked,” Stewart added. 

On the founder side, 1248 Angels doesn’t just provide capital. They offer hands-on post-investment support in fundraising, recruiting, and strategic partnerships. On average, they help portfolio companies raise an additional $2.5 million each in funding. 

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1248 Angels’ investment in Dr. Bombay enables Black consumers, founders, and investors to participate in wealth creation. By building a community of Black and Brown investors, Stewart is disrupting a traditionally exclusive industry and broadening who benefits from the next generation of high-growth companies.

Main Image: De’Havia Stewart, Co-Founder & Principal 1248 Angels

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