85. McConnell Smith, Partner at VMG Partners

Today I’m joined by McConnell Smith of VMG Partners — a private
equity firm focused on growth-stage investments. 


 


In this episode, we explore emerging opportunities across fitness
and wellness. We discuss VMG’s new $850M fund, including the
firm’s approach to backing consumer- and health-focused brands.
And McConnell talks about VMG’s investment in [solidcore] — a
Pilates-based boutique fitness concept. 


 


More from McConnell 


 


McConnell is a partner at VMG Partners, a growth equity fund
focused on partnering with emerging, high-growth, health and
wellness focused consumer brands. He has worked closely with a
number of VMG’s investments, including [solidcore], Quest, Sun
Bum, Nutpods, Justin’s, Solid Gold, Vermont Smoke & Cure, and
Hello Bello, among others. McConnell joined VMG in 2016 and
focuses on the nutrition, wellness, and fitness categories.


 


Prior to VMG, he worked in the consumer investment banking groups
at Piper Sandler and KeyBanc Capital Markets, and before that was
a member of L’Oreal’s supply chain finance team.


 


McConnell grew up in Cleveland and attended Yale University where
he played (quite poorly) wide receiver on the Yale football team.


 


More from Fitt Insider


 


Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of
fitness and wellness.


 


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