Brought together by a shared vision for a better alternative

Mike is an experienced investor and entrepreneur with a background at both large and emerging investment firms, including D.E. Shaw & Co. and Thayer Street Partners. He later founded Grand Mere Restaurant Group, executing a roll-up strategy in the quick-service restaurant sector that grew into one of the nation’s largest Pizza Hut franchisees, with more than 140 locations and 3,000 employees across nine states.

Howard brings over 20 years of finance and investing experience with a track record of building and scaling investment platforms. He founded and sold GigMaven, a technology company in the live entertainment sector, before joining Mike at Thayer Street Partners to lead investments in fintech, software, and business services. Most recently, he was a Partner at LionTree, where he helped build the private investment business and invested more than $500 million across technology, media, entertainment, and services.

Max has 20 years of real estate investment experience, having led more than 50 transactions valued at over $1 billion alongside family offices and institutional partners. He spent eight years at Pearlmark Real Estate Partners before helping launch R2, a Chicago-based owner-operator of commercial properties, where he served as Partner and Chief Investment Officer for 12 years. At R2, he oversaw investment strategy, capital formation, joint ventures, and fund structures.