Investing in the future of media
This panel will explore investment trends across the media landscape. The discussion will focus on how to evaluate potential investments in media organizations from venture stages to mature companies, and how to identify attractive sub-sectors within media. It will additionally touch on the competitive dynamics currently defining the media industry.
Scott English
Senior Managing Director & Co-Head, Hearst Ventures
Scott English is a senior managing director and co-head of Hearst Ventures and pursues strategic investments and acquisitions for Hearst in digital media. English has invested in, and served as a board director or observer of, over 16 companies. Most recently, English lead the investments in portfolio companies BuzzFeed, Pandora, Relationship Science, Brightcove, Sling Media and WideOrbit. His primary focus is on Hearst’s investments in the United States.
English joined Hearst in 1995 and has had a variety of operational and investment responsibilities during his tenure. Aside from his Ventures activities, he helped oversee two of Hearst’s digital businesses and acted as interim CEO of UGO Networks. In his first position at Hearst, English ran business development and strategy for Hearst’s HomeArts.com network of magazine websites culminating in the merger of HomeArts.com and Women.com (iVillage). Prior to Hearst, he worked for Details magazine at Conde Nast.
English graduated with a bachelor’s from Trinity College and earned his MBA from Columbia Business School.
Jordan Turkewitz
Partner, Zelnick Media Capital
Jordan Turkewitz joined ZMC in 2002. Mr. Turkewitz is responsible for originating, structuring and monitoring investments. Mr. Turkewitz currently represents ZMC on the board of 9 Story Media Group, Alloy, L.L.C. and Defy Media. He was previously the Chairman of Cast & Crew Entertainment Services, L.L.C.
Prior to joining ZMC, Mr. Turkewitz served as Senior Director of Acquisitions and Investments at JupiterMedia Corporation, ultimately leading the corporate development team and the investments group that managed three venture capital funds focused on investments in digital publishing, software and business services companies.
Before joining JupiterMedia, Mr. Turkewitz was an Associate with Merrill Lynch & Co. in their Media Investment Banking Group and Goldman Sachs’ Mergers and Acquisitions Group. Prior to his positions in investment banking, Mr. Turkewitz Co-Founded and served as Chief Operating Officer of the Student Advantage Program, a leading integrated media and commerce company focused on the higher education market.
Mr. Turkewitz earned a BA degree in U.S. Government from Cornell University and received a MBA from Columbia Business School.
Sim Blaustein
Partner, BDMI
Sim joined BDMI in 2012 from High Line Venture Partners, where he co-founded the seed fund, and has been in venture capital since 2002 including 3 years at Gabriel Ventures where he managed 17 investments including 3 IPOs and 3 M&As. In addition to spearheading BDMI's seed fund, he led or co-led BDMI’s investments in StyleHaul (acquired by RTL), Dramafever (acquired by Softbank), HelloGiggles (acquired by Time), Food52, Frank & Oak, Jukin Media and Nativo. He is actively focused on new investments in online video and next-generation content-driven companies. He holds an MBA from MIT Sloan, an engineering degree from the Cooper Union where he graduated Summa cum Laude and is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School. Sim is fluent in German, Spanish and can tell jokes in French and Italian.
Max Von zuben
Managing Partner, The Wicks Group
Max von Zuben joined The Wicks Group in July 2004. As a Managing Partner at Wicks, he is involved in the acquisition, financing, strategy development and operational planning of its investments.
Before joining Wicks, Mr. von Zuben spent two years as an Associate at Dubilier & Company, a middle market private equity firm based in New York, where he worked on all aspects of investment and portfolio company management. Prior to Dubilier, Max worked in investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities (DLJ) for three years. At DLJ, Max worked as a generalist, in the media group and in real estate in New York and London.
Max von Zuben graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and American Literature and Language and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Vinay singh
Partner, Archer Gray
Vinay Singh is a Partner at Archer Gray, a media production, financing, and venture capital company. Vinay currently leads the firm’s venture capital and content finance businesses. He also manages the company’s investment portfolio and financial strategy. At the firm, Vinay has overseen investments in disruptive media companies including Littlstar, Vigour, and Dealflicks; films such as Michael Moore’s WHERE TO INVADE NEXT; and theater productions including The Elephant Man.
An expert in finance and media, Vinay combines a proficiency in business strategy with an established track record in content finance and distribution. He has advised some of the leading names in the sector including Vimeo and Indiegogo. Vinay started his career at McKinsey & Company, in New York and Australia, where he served numerous organizations, with a focus on the media and financial services sectors. Prior to joining Archer Gray, Vinay oversaw the consulting division of Cinetic Media, where he managed an international portfolio of clients ranging from tech companies to film financiers, and was actively involved in project financing and sales.
Vinay also co-founded Small Coup Films, an independent production company. Amongst its portfolio, the company produced narrative and documentary films that have premiered at Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca. He serves on the boards of Rooftop Films, the Made in NY Media Center, and EFM Innovation Platform. Vinay graduated with a BS in Economics and Systems Engineering from The University Of Pennsylvania.
moderator
Arvind Sohoni
McKinsey & Company