Ventures, Solutions & Media: Investing in and amplifying the future of hospitality and foodservice through media, technology, and strategic partnerships
Joined June 2020
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Another massive deal at the intersection of hospitality, gaming, and entertainment: Tilman Fertitta has agreed to acquire Caesars Entertainment in a transaction valued at approximately $17.6 billion, including the assumption of nearly $12 billion in debt.
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Big moves at Smashburger. The brand is clearly betting on a major turnaround. Why now? Because they are investing heavily in growth and modernization. This is not just about selling burgers anymore. It’s about redefining what the brand stands for.
restaurantdive.com/news/smas…
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Wendy's just hired a CEO who made a name turning around Potbelly (and a Hospitality Hangout previous Hustlers guest!).
Bob Wright isn’t just a marketer or an operator. He’s a true turnaround expert.
restaurantdive.com/news/wend…
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Inspire the powerhouse behind Dunkin', Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby's, Jimmy John's, SONIC, and Baskin-Robbins has officially filed for an IPO. What makes this especially interesting is the diversity of the portfolio.
restaurantdive.com/news/insp…
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DoorDash just hired an ex Amazon exec as CMO. They want to rethink how they connect with customers, and who better than someone who’s navigated Amazon’s complex global brand landscape?
marketingdive.com/news/doord…
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Amazon’s latest move into B2B grocery is another sign that convenience is becoming the competitive advantage. Businesses can now bundle office essentials fresh groceries in one cart and get same-day delivery in over 2,300 cities.
grocerydive.com/news/amazon-…
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This would be one of the biggest restaurant IPO stories in years.
Inspire Brands — the powerhouse behind Dunkin', Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John's, Sonic Drive-In, and Baskin-Robbins — has confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO.
wsj.com/business/retail/dunk…
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Big move for Shake Shack… and another signal that the next phase of restaurant growth is going to be driven just as much by finance as it is by menu innovation. Shake Shack just appointed former Portillo's CFO Michelle Hook as its new CFO!
restaurantdive.com/news/shak…
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The wealth management world is getting bigger, more competitive, and more concentrated all at once. Barron's just released its 2026 ranking of the Top 250 Private Wealth Management Teams… and the numbers are staggering.
barrons.com/advisor/articles…
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The turnaround at Restaurant Brands International is becoming hard to ignore… and the biggest headline might be what’s happening at Burger King.
cnbc.com/2026/05/06/restaura…
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Consumers pushed back. Pepsi listened. And volume came back fast. But the bigger story is what CEO Ramon Laguarta called a “holistic transformation” pricing, product innovation, cleaner ingredients, and actually aligning with where the consumer is going.
foxbusiness.com/media/pepsic…
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Big deals are back… in a big way. 2026 is shaping up to be a mega year for megadeals and that’s not just hype. Massive transactions have “re-emerged with a vengeance,” signaling a real shift in confidence at the highest levels.
cfobrew.com/stories/2026/04/…
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Big move in coffee… Nestlé just sold Blue Bottle Coffee to Centurium Capital and it says a lot about where things are heading. This isn’t just a transaction. It’s strategy.
fooddive.com/news/nestle-sel…
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BlackRock just dropped Q1 earnings and the headline is simple: scale wins.
A 46% jump in profit. $130B in net inflows. And a record-breaking quarter for iShares ETFs.
The biggest players in the world aren’t sitting still… they’re reallocating.
wsj.com/finance/investing/bl…
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Purpose > short-term excitement. Because if you’re chasing quick wins or constant dopamine, you’ll force decisions that shouldn’t be forced. The leaders who win long-term? They’re not just smart. They’re disciplined about how and when they think.
entrepreneur.com/business-ne…
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McCormick & Company might drop $4.5 billion on Unilever's food brands. But here is the real question: does scale still matter in food, or is it just inertia dressed up as strategy?
fooddive.com/news/mccormick-…
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Peet's Coffee just hired a #CEO from Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.. That is not a typo. It is a signal.
If you are building in #hospitality or food tech, this is your wakeup call.
fooddive.com/news/peets-coff…
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When Kleiner Perkins raises $3.5 billion and goes all-in on #AI… you pay attention. This isn’t just another fund. It’s a signal. $1B going early stage. $2.5B going growth.
That means one thing: AI isn’t a #trend anymore. It’s #infrastructure.
techcrunch.com/2026/03/24/wi…
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a16z built something different. A multi-family office designed around:
→ #Tax efficiency, not just returns
→ Balance sheet strategy, not just asset allocation
→ Long-term alignment, not product pushing
forbes.com/sites/josipamajic…
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Everyone’s talking about this $29B deal… but I don’t think people are talking about what it really means. Sysco acquiring Jetro Restaurant Depot isn’t just about scale, it’s about #strategy.
wsj.com/business/deals/sysco…
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