Eric Garland
Investor
Founder Smash Capital with Kevin Mayer, Evan Richter and Brad Twohig. Smash is a later-stage investment firm focused on high growth consumer internet, software, and technology companies: Epic Games (Fortnite), DraftKings, Fever, Wagestream, Coda Payments, Rec Room, Equi, Fizz, Bilt, Lanes & Planes, Leonardo.ai, Blockchain.com, Eleven Labs, TradingView, Timeleft, Ovoko, Pearl AI, Read AI, Magic School AI. Previously: From 2014-2018 I led venture and growth investments for The Walt Disney Company. Before that, EVP Digital at Live Nation, where I led corporate venture after selling my startup. VC, executive, operator and entrepreneur with more than 25 years innovating in technology and entertainment. Founder/CEO BigChampagne Media Measurement, big data analytics company and leading provider of digital marketing products and analytics to brands, Wall Street analysts, and the entertainment industry. Exit: Live Nation Entertainment (world’s largest live entertainment company, NYSE: LYV, market cap $30B+). Served as Live Nation EVP Digital, created Live Nation’s internal innovation group, led web and mobile strategy. Established the company’s corporate venture team and created and managed Live Nation’s venture fund. Advisory boards: Fender Digital, USC Annenberg School, digital initiative of the Recording Academy (The Grammys). Fortune “40 Under 40,” Fast Company “World’s Most Innovative Companies,” WIRED: “created the Nielsen Ratings of online music.” Early days of entertainment and tech: data mining on Napster and BitTorrent. Even earlier: management consulting. Experience: venture capital, VC, private equity, PE, founder, CEO, general management of organizations, strategy, innovation, corporate venture, corporate development, M&A, post-merger integration, business operations, startups and entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships and business development, negotiations and deal structuring, product development.
blockchain.com
tradingview.com
sleeper.com
livenationentertainment.com
sondermind.com
wtwco.com
magicschool.ai
Los Angeles Metropolitan Area