SKKY Partners

So proud to be on WWD Beauty Inc’s Financial Power Players List. It’s an honor to be included amongst this accomplished group of industry leaders! https://lnkd.in/eKsBQPA7

The latest edition of our SKKY Spotlight series features Vice President Zach Litner:   𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱?  At the end of the day, we are all consumers. I am lucky enough to be able to work with some of the most innovative brands and founders in the industry who are on the forefront of cultural relevancy. I love learning about these brands’ origin stories and am privileged to be able to support them on their next leg of growth.   𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗞𝗞𝗬? The people. My colleagues at SKKY are some of the smartest, most creative, and collaborative individuals that I have had the pleasure of working with during my career. I am constantly learning from others on the team through their unique perspectives, and we all support each other to perform at our best.   𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱? To not be afraid to show up as my authentic self. Authenticity not only allows me to feel more confident and comfortable in my own skin, but also enables me to form more genuine connections with others. As an LGBTQ+ identifying investor, I am proud to embrace this part of my identity throughout all parts of my life and showing up authentically allows me to interact more meaningfully and with greater impact.   𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗙𝗙 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻?   I am a huge fan of TRUFF’s new buffalo hot sauce (which is great on chicken tenders) but am also fiercely loyal to the original TRUFF hot sauce. Nothing beats eggs with a generous drizzle of TRUFF, particularly for weekend brunch!

SKKY Co-Founder and Managing Partner Jay Sammons recently joined Joseph Cass and Raam Ratnam on S&P Global's FI15 podcast. “Everybody on our team is passionate about understanding everything that’s going on in the consumer marketplace and the trends driving consumptive behavior across markets. It’s one of the reasons why I believe a sector-specialized firm in consumer is really important, and it’s why we have chosen to focus so narrowly on what we do. It’s about being really great at a very specific investing strategy, and it’s driven by having highly passionate people who want to be out in the world seeing every brand that’s being developed – not just the ones that we’re going to invest in next month or next quarter, but over the next 5 to 10 years,” Jay shared when speaking to SKKY’s team and investment strategy. Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/emBCyg87

Great op-ed by Hope Tarirai Mago in PE Hub. I could not agree more that diversity, equity and inclusion are instrumental to success and to driving better outcomes. DEI is a core value at SKKY Partners and we are proud to be a diversely owned firm with women making up the majority of our team. We look forward to continuing to champion DEI both at SKKY and within our portfolio companies. https://lnkd.in/efF2BbN7

As part of our new SKKY Spotlight series, Vice President Brittany Serafino shares her insights on the consumer sector, the best piece of advice she’s received and her favorite TRUFF product: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝? I love the combination of quantitative analysis, qualitative insight, and creativity involved in consumer investing. In addition to evaluating more traditional financial and performance metrics, we spend significant time at SKKY studying customer purchase journeys, investigating key psychological and emotional drivers behind purchase decisions, and collaborating with founders on growth initiatives. The consumer sector is home to some of the most diverse and visionary founders across the broader industry, and it’s a privilege to learn from and support these individuals every day. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰? While the consumer industry has witnessed significant disruption over the past few years, there are many longer-term, secular trends that remain in focus, such as the diversification of demographics and preferences, the prioritization of holistic wellness, the integration of social commerce (e.g., TikTok Shop), and the prevalence of GenAI. As we continue to see more economic normalization, I am also focused on tracking select pockets where US consumers are increasing their willingness to spend (and splurge!), such as beauty for Gen Z, at-home food & beverage for millennials, and travel & leisure for older generations.   𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝? To approach every situation with a learning mindset. The world is in a constant state of change and remaining curious allows us to stay open to and on top of evolving trends and opportunities. Further, there is always something to learn from one another. Genuine interest in and respect for the perspectives of others not only fosters stronger teamwork and partnerships, but it also leads to better investment decisions.   𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐅𝐅 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧?  I have been a huge fan and customer of TRUFF’s products for years, but the new jalapeño lime hot sauce may just be my favorite. I put TRUFF’s green sauce on tacos, burrito bowls, and eggs.

Buffalo sauce has entered the chat 🟠📱 World, meet our newest creation - a luxurious twist on an American classic. The refined allure of black truffle blends seamlessly with the tang of vinegar, the kick of cayenne, and the silk of olive oil, resulting in a culinary masterpiece that we like to call “TRUFFALO.” Whether you’re tossing wings, enhancing a burger, or enriching mac and cheese, our take on this game day favorite balances the acidic punch of traditional buffalo sauce with TRUFF's signature opulence. This isn't just a sauce, it's an experience, and we couldn't be more excited to share it with the world!! Now available at TRUFF.com

Had a great time attending the Forbes Iconoclast Summit in NYC last week! I particularly enjoyed the conversations with industry leaders and thought-provoking discussions around corporate culture and leadership. Thank you to Forbes for sponsoring! #IconoclastSummit

SKKY Senior Operating Advisor Angela Ahrendts recently joined Moira Forbes, EVP at Forbes Media and President & Publisher of ForbesWomen, for a conversation about her incredible career. Angela brings unparalleled relevant experience to SKKY, and we are proud to have her on the team!   Watch the full discussion at the link below.

World, meet STAR WARS™ Dark Side Hot Sauce by TRUFF, an official collaboration with Lucasfilm. This marks TRUFF’s hottest hot sauce to date, showcasing a rich symphony of flavors that surpasses anything the brand has crafted before. The pinnacle of TRUFF’s heat experience is reached with a unique blend intertwining the fiery essence of ghost peppers with the rich notes of black winter truffles. Just as the heroic Anakin Skywalker was transformed by the fires of Mustafar into the menacing Darth Vader, the new spicy blend will immerse you in a fiery symphony of flavor, revealing layers of complexity and intensity that will prove to be impossible to resist. As you open the bottle, an aromatic explosion, inspired by the lingering aura of the Sith, fills the air and invites you to embrace the dark side. Available to order on April 24 at 9 am PT. Sign up for the waitlist at IGN.com/TRUFF

SKKY Managing Director David Brisske was recently featured in PE Hub's “Dealmakers to Watch” series.    “We always say our investment strategy is predicated on identifying brands that forge real connectivity with their consumers, and that’s underpinned by fantastic products… We’re focused on companies that have healthy unit economics, clear ongoing growth potential and where we think we can be helpful value-add partners.”   Read the full profile here: https://lnkd.in/e6qaS4HR