Hillspire Company Profile

Background

Hillspire, LLC, established in 2006, is an integrated family office investment management firm dedicated to managing the capital of a California-based family. The firm serves the business and philanthropic activities of Eric and Wendy Schmidt, including The Schmidt Family Foundation, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, and Schmidt Futures, supporting over 700 employees worldwide. Hillspire's mission is to build an investment portfolio focused on long-term capital appreciation, engaging in a broad range of investment activities on a global basis.

Key Strategic Focus

Hillspire's strategic focus encompasses:

Investment Activities: The firm invests in publicly-traded securities, traditional private equity activities, real estate, and other alternative assets. It also collaborates with third-party managers in both private and public markets.

Philanthropic Initiatives: Through the support of Eric and Wendy Schmidt, Hillspire is deeply involved in various philanthropic initiatives focused on environmental sustainability, ocean health, and global solutions.

Financials and Funding

Hillspire manages more than $5 billion of the Schmidts' wealth. The firm's primary objective is to build an investment portfolio focused on long-term capital appreciation. Hillspire's revenue is estimated to be between $50 million and $100 million annually.

Pipeline Development

Hillspire has made several notable investments, including:

Tierra Biosciences: Participated in an $11.4 million funding round in March 2024.

Sion Power: Invested $75 million in January 2024 to support the commercialization of its Licerion EV battery technology.

Antheia: Contributed to a $73 million funding round in July 2021.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Hillspire demonstrates a commitment to leveraging technology for social impact, utilizing a tech stack that includes:

Amazon Web Services (AWS): For cloud hosting solutions.

React: A JavaScript library for building user interfaces.

Amazon ALB: Application Load Balancer for managing incoming application traffic.

Trustpilot: An online review management platform.

Bootstrap: A front-end framework for developing responsive web applications.

Leadership Team

Key executives at Hillspire include:

Ken Goldman: President.

Chuck Chai: President and Chief Investment Officer.

K. Y.: Chief Information Officer.

G. G.: Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Finance.

M. S.: President & Chief Legal Officer.

C. U.: CFO Aviation.

E. H.: Head of Aviation Investments & Strategic Initiatives.

A. T.: Head of Executive Operations.

A. A.: Vice President, Human Resources.

R. T.: Vice President Operations.

Leadership Changes

As of the latest available information, there have been no recent significant changes or appointments within Hillspire's leadership team.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

Hillspire operates within the family office investment management sector, focusing on long-term capital appreciation through diverse investment activities. The market is characterized by a growing number of family offices seeking to manage substantial wealth with a focus on both financial returns and philanthropic impact.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors include:

Permal Capital Management: Employs approximately 190 individuals with an estimated revenue of $21.4 million.

AKD Investment Management: Has around 68 employees and generates approximately $7.8 million in revenue.

ASYMMETRY Managed Accounts: Comprises about 89 employees with a revenue of $4.9 million.

Leobrothers: Employs 87 individuals and has an estimated revenue of $14.5 million.

Moore Capital Management: A larger competitor with 378 employees and a revenue of $48.4 million.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Hillspire has engaged in significant collaborations, including:

D. E. Shaw Group: In April 2015, Hillspire acquired a 20% equity interest previously owned by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in the management companies of the D. E. Shaw group. This stake represents a passive economic interest, with the D. E. Shaw group continuing to operate independently.

Operational Insights

Hillspire's strategic considerations include:

Diversified Investment Portfolio: Engaging in a broad range of investment activities, including publicly-traded securities, private equity, real estate, and alternative assets, to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

Philanthropic Engagement: Supporting various initiatives focused on environmental sustainability, ocean health, and global solutions, aligning investment activities with social impact goals.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Hillspire's future directions involve:

Expanding Investment Activities: Continuing to diversify its investment portfolio across various asset classes and industries to enhance long-term capital appreciation.