The Fort - An Entrepreneurship Podcast

#363 - Jason Illian - GP & Co-Founder @ Highmount Capital - Growth Equity, Investing in Dude Perfect, Launching Koch Disruptive Technologies

Aug 27, 2024

Jason Illian, General Partner and Co-Founder of Highmount Capital, shares insights from his journey in venture capital. He discusses what makes an effective venture partner and the characteristics that attract investment in late-stage companies. Jason reveals the strategic process behind a $100 million investment in Dude Perfect, emphasizing the importance of family-friendly brands. He also explores innovative ways to monetize within the creator economy, showcasing how strong community values can drive successful growth strategies.

01:07:50

Episode guests

Jason Illian

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Building strong networks and relationships over time opens doors to unforeseen opportunities in venture capital careers.

Effective pitch decks are crucial for fundraising success, with firms like Better Pitch providing essential tools for investors.

The shift towards principled investing emphasizes long-term growth and integrity, highlighting the value of thoughtful investments in transformative companies.

Deep dives

Understanding Relationship Tiers

Building close relationships is limited to a manageable number, typically divided into three tiers: community, network, and ecosystem. The community consists of 20 to 30 close friends who can be contacted immediately, reflecting a high level of trust. The network expands to 50 to 70 acquaintances where relationships are still developing. The ecosystem encompasses the rest of the contacts, emphasizing that meaningful connections require focus and evolve over time, influenced by life stages and experiences.

Intro

4min

From Football to Finance: A Journey Through Venture Capital

3min

Navigating Venture Capital: From Entrepreneurship to Investment

23min

Cultivating Meaningful Connections

5min

Investing in Growth: The Dude Perfect Journey

14min

Connecting with the Personalities of Dude Perfect

2min

The Evolution of Golf Content and Leadership Dynamics

16min

Jason is the General Partner and Co-Founder of Highmount Capital, a unique investment firm focused on growth stage and middle market investments in transformative technology and other growth-related platforms. He is the former Managing Director and founding member of Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), the venture and growth arm of Koch Industries, the largest privately-held company in the US with over $130B in revenue. Jason was responsible for helping KDT grow to billions in AUM across 40+ companies.

We discuss:

- What makes a great venture partner

- What venture firms look for in late-stage companies

- The process of making a $100mm investment in DudePerfect

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Links:

Dude Perfect

Highmount Capital

Jason on X

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro