26 – 100 in alphabetical order: Kip Frey, executive vice-president for New Ventures, The Heritage Group, managing partner, HG Ventures.
Kip Frey is executive vice-president for New Ventures at US-based company The Heritage Group and managing partner for its corporate venture capital arm, HG Ventures.
Since its formation in 2018, HG Ventures has invested more than $65 million in hardtech startups and now has a portfolio of more than twenty companies. HG Ventures was created to drive innovation and growth by investing in private companies and new technologies in THG’s core industries of environmental services, specialty chemicals, and transportation construction and materials.
Frey said at the time of the unit’s launch: “When first approached about joining The Heritage Group, I was struck by its incredible legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship. The Heritage Group crafts ground-breaking customer solutions every single day, and HG Ventures will supercharge innovation across the organization. I could not be more excited to join the THG team.”
Shortly after its formation, HG Ventures backed Epogee, a cutting-edge fat substitute in the food industry, electric vehicle power system developer Romeo Power Technology, and 120Water, which creates a cloud software platform that facilities the provision of water infrastructure. In 2020, HG Ventures invested in additive manufacturing technology developer Equispheres, environmental compliance management software development, Wildnote, and sustainable chemical product developer P2 Science.
HG Ventures also oversees the Heritage Group Accelerator Powered by Techstars, which brings ten early-stage and early-growth companies to The Center, THG’s state-of-the-art R&D facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. HG Ventures provides the startups with funding, mentors, and access to technical expertise to develop and refine their business plans.
Prior to joining THG, Frey served as the Vice Provost for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Professor of Law and Public Policy at Duke University. He practised intellectual property law before joining Turner Broadcasting System where he contributed to the acquisition of Castle Rock Entertainment, the formation of the Cartoon Network, and construction of the MGM Grand Hotel. He has served as CEO of several startups and as a partner at venture capital firm Intersouth Partners. Frey is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Southern California and of Duke Law School, where he served on the Duke Law Journal.
