Invests in
Locations:
Min Investment:
$200,000.00Max Investment:
$400,000.00Target Investment:
$300,000.00
Skills
Education
- SU
- YU
Lists including Kevin
Investments
Work Experience
2021
Managing Director
2021
Seeking equity investments in cannabis and debt investments in consumer (www.lagoinnovation.com) Current select consumer debt portfolio: - Apparel: Buck Mason (www.buckmason.com), Stio (www.stio.com), Birdy Grey (www.birdygrey.com) - Food: Cure Hydration (www.curehydration.com), Koia (www.drinkkoia.com) - Beauty/Health: Happy Head (www.happyhead.com), Starface (www.starface.world), Organixx (www.organixx.com) Current select cannabis equity portfolio: - MSO / SSOs: Proper Holdings (www.propercannabis.com), TRP Holdings (www.trp.co) - Brands: Kiva Confections (www.kivaconfections.com), Fernway (www.fernway.com) - Ingredients: Open Book Extracts (www.openbookextracts.com) - Ancillary: Katalys (www.katalys.com), GrowerIQ (www.groweriq.ca), Willow Industries (www.willowindustries.com)
2018
Investor / Operator
2018
Acquire or launch brands in categories where customers deserve better quality, innovation, and value. Current Investments: - Kinders (www.kinders.com) - Barebones (www.barebonesbroth.com): managing member - Sunwink (www.sunwink.com): managing member - Spanglish Asadero (www.spanglishasadero.com) - Rising Star Baking Supply (www.magnolia-star.com)
2014
Founder / President
2014
Apparel Investments: - Buck Mason (www.buckmason.com): 1st investor, part-time CFO - Draper James (www.draperjames.com): turnaround investor, exited to Consortium Partners in 2023 - Eloquii (www.eloquii.com): seed investor, acquired by Walmart in 2018 - Jaanuu (www.jaanuu.com): seed investor, recapped by Eurazeo in 2022 Food Investments: - Sticky's Finger Joint (www.stickys.com): former board member - Pressed Juicery (www.pressedjuicery.com): recapped by Madrone Capital in 2016 - Crunchies (www.crunchiesfood.com): former board member, acquired by Nagatanien Holdings in 2016 Beauty Investments - Kjaer Weis (www.kjaerweis.com) - DreamDry (www.dreamdry.com): former board member and interim CEO Tech Investments: - Evite (www.evite.com): interim CRO (restructuring), exited to Francisco Partners in 2024 - Media/Gaming: Epic Games (www.fortnite.com), Discord (www.discord.com) - Fintech: Copper Banking (www.getcopper.com), Consensys (www.consensys.io) - Space/Defense: Skydio (www.skydio.com), Loft Orbital (www.loftorbital.com), Shield AI (www.shield.ai), Vector (www.tfvector.com) Energy: Last Energy (www.lastenergy.com), Realta Fusion (www.realtafusion.com) - Other: Airtable (www.airtable.com), Auradine (www.auradine.com), Gecko Robotics (www.geckorobotics.com)
2018
Investor and Partner
2018
Originate & sponsor proprietary cross-border deals and investments between Mexico and U.S. Invest alongside family offices in emerging PE and VC funds. Current investments: - Scale Logistics (www.wescale3pl.com): cross-border fulfillment - Prize Payments (www.paymentlabs.io): payment solution for global gamers - Pittsburgh Knights (www.knights.gg): Mexico e-sports partner - ICAN (www.ican.mx): first licensed cannabis retailer in Mexico - Crediverso (www.crediverso.com, www.mypocketlawyer.ai): banking and legal solutions Fund Investments (LP) - Warburg Pincus (www.warburgpincus.com) - Frontier: GFT Ventures (www.gft.vc), LMNT Ventures (www.lmnt.vc) - Ethnic: Strong Investors (www.strongvc.com), Unshackled Ventures (www.unshackledvc.com) - Fintech: Clocktower Technology Ventures (www.clocktowerventures.com), Manresa Ventures - Co-invest groups: Silvercircle One (Larry Chu), GSBackers (Stanford alums), Little Joe Fund (personal)
2012
Investor and Partner
2012
Seeking, via acquisition or partnership, to manage and grow companies in the infrastructure and maintenance industries with the benefit of a disabled veteran business enterprise (“DVBE”) certification. Investments: - GuardTop (www.guardtop.com): former CFO, acquired by Pavement Recycling Systems in 2024 - Flint Group (www.flintgrp.com): exited to General Atlantic in 2023 - Wrench Group (www.wrenchgroup.com): exited to InvestCorp in 2016 - Cadence Power (www.cadencepower.com): source and procure materials to utility companies - Cross Brothers (www.crossbrothersinc.com): custom metal enclosures and fabrication
2010
EVP & CFO / Investor
2010
Bought business from founder, grew from 3 to 20 locations (with no subsequent equity raises), acquired by iEducation Group (Leeds Equity portfolio company) in 2019. Current equity holder.
2015 - 2017
Co-Founder, COO & CFO
2015 - 2017
Went from idea to 5 retail stores, Nordstrom's, and DTC in < 1 yr with Toni Ko (NYX Cosmetics founder).
2012 - 2014
Co-Founder, COO & CFO
2012 - 2014
Launched DTC golf club brand from idea w/ former CEO of Cleveland/Srixon. Partnered with UPS as custom golf club manufacturer.
2007 - 2010
Senior Associate
2007 - 2010
Responsible for supporting the origination, structuring, managing and harvesting of investments for lower middle-market $200 mm private equity firm. Completed 4 platform investments and over 10 add-on acquisitions. Played various interim operating roles at the following companies: - Western Emulsions: asphalt emulsions manufacturer used for pavement preservation - Solis Women's Health: largest mammography clinic chain in U.S. with 30 locations in 6 states - Storyteller Theatres: movie theatre company that operated theatres in NM, CO, AZ, and WY - Boot Barn: leading specialty retailer of western and work wear that grew from 30 to 80 stores - Fire Grill: operates 43 Burger King® restaurants in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana - Promax Nutrition: protein-based energy bars (Promax) and organic nutrition bars (Pure Bar)
2004 - 2007
Co-Founder
2004 - 2007
Launched from idea to profitable business in 1st year with 3 divisions and 30 employees. Sold stake to co-founder and currently #1 premier educational services company in Korea.