Nascent US children's savoury snacks brand Cadootz! has received backing in a round led by early-stage investor Selva Ventures.

The group, which specialises in better-for-you crackers for kids, has raised over $3m in a seed funding round.

Selva Ventures was founded by Kiva Dickinson who is also a co-founder of the snacks brand.

In a statement, Cadootz! said it will use the funds to support its "next phase of growth", which will include launching in an unnamed national retailer in the US in June.

Through the launch, the business also plans to develop "a new, family-friendly pack-type". 

Cadootz! was set up in 2023 by Rachel Mansfield and her husband Jordan Carpenter. The business launched its products onto the market through direct-to-consumer channels in January this year. The snacks are currently sold in the US through Cadootz!'s own website and on Amazon.

The group's savoury crackers come in a range of flavours such as ranch and cheddar and are said to contain 5g of protein per 30g serving and are free from seed oils.

"Cadootz! has all the makings of a category-defining, generational brand," Dickinson said. "We believe Cadootz! will become the ultimate shorthand for trust in kids' snacking: a modern-day seal of approval for what families should feel good about. Rachel and Jordan aren't building a product, they're building the platform that will set the standard across every format, every occasion, and every pantry."

Other investments in Selva's portfolio include the better-for-you cookies producer Mid-Day Squares and Javvy protein coffee, according to its website.

It has also invested in the supplements maker Grüns, which Unilever has just recently agreed to acquire for an unknown sum.

In addition to Selva's investment, the seed round also received backing from "additional strategic investors", Cadootz! said.