CHRIS VAN DUSEN
SENIOR PARTNER
SOLYCO CAPITAL
WHY: Senior Partner of Solyco Capital, a private investment firm focused on private equity, venture capital, private credit and real estate. Three-time exited founder in consumer products, one of which being at the time of exit was one of the largest CBD brands in the world. Sits on the boards of five companies in Solyco’s portfolio ranging from sports and entertainment to property tech.
NOTABLE: Solyco Capital has invested in OC entrepreneurs: Vic Merjanian of Titan HST, Kyle Kamrooz at Bonus, and Min Yoo at EVMode. Chris is a global keynote speaker and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
QUOTABLE: “The entrepreneurial journey has been romanticized in our culture, but it’s extremely hard. So many don’t understand what it takes to do. Startups typically fail not because they run out of money but because the founders gave up. That’s why I love investing in second- and third-time founders. When someone has gone through it once or twice, they know what they are signing up for. That persistence—grit—is what I’m trying to find.”
