Great Brands Spark Emotions
Backing the Next Generation of Iconic Consumer and Media Companies
Great brands spark emotion. They ignite the imagination, foster community, and inspire loyalty. Whether it’s The Beatles creating the soundtrack of a generation, Levi’s defining the style of rebellion, or Four Seasons setting the gold standard in hospitality, iconic consumer, media, and entertainment brands influence how we live.
Showcase Ventures was created to help these great brands become enduring businesses. Combining capital, business-building experience, and brand expertise gives us a competitive edge. Although capturing that emotion is no simple task, when successful, the result is phenomenal businesses that generate excellent returns for our investors.
We are not passive investors. Choosing to be deeply involved in value creation means committing to getting into the trenches. We partner with founders at every stage of their journey, shaping creative direction, refining go-to-market strategies, amplifying marketing and PR, building partnerships, strengthening financial discipline, structuring legal frameworks, and charting long-term plans.
Our Managing Partner, Brian Wade, has spent 15 years investing in and partnering with management teams to build leading media and consumer companies. Jason Owen, a super-manager, entrepreneur, and award-winning producer, has launched A-level artists and guided their careers across genres and media, and has developed and stewarded brand strategies for many iconic brands. As a lawyer and operator, Jordan Manekin brings 15 years advising startups through public corporations across AI, entertainment, media, consumer, and fashion. Hoyt Halvorson offers the perspective of a seasoned investor, with a successful track record in both public and private markets, and as an anchor LP in top-tier PE and VC funds. Together, our complementary strengths create a platform uniquely equipped to deliver lasting value for founders, businesses, and investors.
We launched the firm in February 2025 and have spent the following months laying the groundwork for Showcase Ventures. Our proprietary software allows us to identify the most promising companies. We expanded our network of advisors. We have brought together top-tier partners to enhance our due diligence and value-creation efforts. Meanwhile, hundreds of conversations with entrepreneurs have helped refine our focus, while ongoing research loops ensure we keep learning, adapting, and building on our competitive edge.
This is just a tinge of what we have planned. The next few years promise to be an incredible time for challenger brands to inspire consumers and redefine entire industries. Founders will draw on timeless human emotions, even as technology unlocks new possibilities and accelerates the creation of great businesses. Showcase Ventures is excited to champion these brands and help shape them into tomorrow’s iconic businesses.
