John A. Kuelbs is an accomplished entrepreneur, partner, and investor with extensive experience in operating, financing, and investing in a wide range of businesses. He grew up in Minnesota, where he faced a defining moment when his car wouldn't start one bitterly cold winter morning, and his hair froze solid as he tried to fix the problem. He decided to leave Minnesota and seek his future somewhere warmer. He packed up his 1977 Pontiac Firebird and headed to Texas to take a chance on a start-up business, which ultimately grew into Chrome Specialties, an international Harley-Davidson aftermarket parts company distributing 13,000 products to 4,000 retailers in 48 countries.
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Over the years, Kuelbs has been involved in a variety of businesses, including a bank, ski resort, consumer power tools, solar lighting, energy water treatment, online games, and movies. One of his most successful ventures was Funimation, which owned several anime’ titles including Dagon Ball Z. He and his partners grew the studio to over $100 million in annual sales with 450 titles, 10,000 hours of content, and over 4 billion views across all platforms. He has also worked alongside several successful management teams and partners, including two self-made billionaires who founded Fortune 500 companies.
Kuelbs has learned many valuable lessons from his experiences, but the most important one is how to work "on" a company, not just "in" a company. He is inspired by entrepreneurs and their ambition, drive, and sense of adventure. Kuelbs believes that life and business are a journey, and the memories of the people we meet and the experiences we share with them are the most important things we take with us.
Today, Kuelbs is building his latest venture Latin Gin. His family office co-invests alongside other successful entrepreneurs, CEO friends, and family offices. He believes that they can bring strategic partners and patient capital without the limitations of a private equity firm. Kuelbs Family Office is actively seeking investments in privately held companies and encourages anyone with an interesting proposal to contact his family office.
Kuelbs has learned many valuable lessons from his experiences, but the most important one is how to work "on" a company, not just "in" a company. He is inspired by entrepreneurs and their ambition, drive, and sense of adventure. Kuelbs believes that life and business are a journey, and the memories of the people we meet and the experiences we share with them are the most important things we take with us.
Today, Kuelbs is building his latest venture Latin Gin. His family office co-invests alongside other successful entrepreneurs, CEO friends, and family offices. He believes that they can bring strategic partners and patient capital without the limitations of a private equity firm. Kuelbs Family Office is actively seeking investments in privately held companies and encourages anyone with an interesting proposal to contact his family office.