Lunch and Presentation
Title: Investing in the legal US cannabis market
Description: KEY Investment Partners will discuss investing in the legal US cannabis market. Specifically, KEY will overview the legal US cannabis market progression (size & growth), regulatory initiatives, drivers behind the current industry funding gap, relative attractiveness of different subsectors, types of business models expected to be long term winners. Attendees will walk away with conversational knowledge around the dynamics of the legal U.S. cannabis industry and will learn novel ways of investing in the space.
PETE KARABAS
Founding Partner
At KEY Investment Partners, Pete is responsible for origination, due diligence, and execution of investment opportunities in addition to developing strategic partnerships and fundraising initiatives for the firm. Pete is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of BDSA and sits on the Board of Directors of Front Range Biosciences, two of KEY’s portfolio companies.
Prior to founding KEY, Pete spent four years as a member of Partners Group’s (SIX: PGHN) Private Real Estate Group where he was responsible for originating opportunities, conducting due diligence, and executing portfolio transactions valued between $300mn and $1.5bn in gross asset value. While at Partners Group, Pete closed 12 portfolio acquisitions, deploying ~$700mn in equity ($2.5bn gross asset value).
Prior to Partners Group, Pete spent three years at Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) where he focused on the acquisition and asset management of Class A multifamily properties.
Pete holds a BBA in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Originally a Chicago native, he moved to Denver in 2016 to help build out Partners Group’s U.S. real estate team. After seeing the growth in the cannabis industry first-hand, Pete pivoted his career to focus on connecting investors with early-stage cannabis companies.
TIBY ERDELY
Founding Partner
At KEY Investment Partners, Tiby is responsible for structuring and leading investment opportunities, developing the marketing and client relations initiatives, driving firmwide strategic initiatives, conducting due diligence on deal opportunities, driving proactive outreach for deal sourcing opportunities, and leading co-investment syndication processes. Erdely championed and led KEY’s first investment in BDS Analytics (‘BDSA’) and championed the formation of KEY’s advisory board. Erdely currently sits on the Board of Open Book Extracts, Katalys and Day Three Labs, KEY portfolio companies.
Prior to co-founding KEY, Tiby spent three years as a member of Partners Group’s (SIX: PGHN) client solutions team, where he was responsible for raising flagship funds and sourcing opportunities. While at Partners Group, Tiby worked with the various deal teams learning Partners Group’s approach to sourcing deals and conducting due diligence.
Prior to Partners Group, Tiby spent four years with Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), working most recently for the Fundamental Equity team in Goldman Sachs Asset Management (‘GSAM’).
Tiby was born and raised in San Antonio, TX and holds a BBA in Finance from The University of Texas at San Antonio where he graduated with honors. In his free time, Tiby enjoys skiing, traveling, hiking and live music.
JORDAN YOUKILIS
Founding Partner
At KEY Investment Partners, Jordan is responsible for developing due diligence strategy, leading co-investment syndication processes, writing blog posts and driving proactive outreach for deal sourcing opportunities. Jordan led KEY Investment Partners’ investments in springbig, HERBL, XS Financial and LivWell.
Prior to founding KEY, Jordan spent four years as a member of Partners Group’s Private Equity team responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, and executing lead, control leveraged buyout transactions for companies between $500 million and $2.5 billion in enterprise value.
Prior to Partners Group, Jordan spent four years with GE Capital predominantly in Leveraged Finance, underwriting debt facilities for business services companies in lower-middle market buyout transactions.
Jordan was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH and attended Indiana University as a Wells Scholar, majoring in Economics & Political Science. Jordan is a Leafwire Expert Contributor. In his free time, Jordan enjoys traveling, skiing, reading & hiking.
COLBY MCKENZIE
Strategic Advisor
At KEY Investment Partners, Colby is responsible for developing fund strategy, deal sourcing and diligence, negotiating deal terms, assisting/advising portfolio companies, and expanding the fund’s cannabis network.
Colby is a co-Founder of Enlighten, a leading technology provider in the cannabis industry, bringing cutting edge retail technology and marketing solutions to more than 1,200 customers across the U.S. and Canada.
Prior to Enlighten, Colby founded a sweat equity fund, McKenzie Ventures, where he took a hands-on approach with the startups and small growth companies in the fund’s portfolio to drive strategic growth and rapidly expand market footprint. Colby started his career as a private equity attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges. He currently resides in Austin, TX and received his undergraduate degree in finance from Texas A&M University and his JD from Southern Methodist University.