Draft:Matthew Brown (businessman)

  • Comment: Needs in-depth coverage (not just passing mentions) in usually at least 3 reliable sources that are not written by or related to the subject 94rain Talk 04:51, 1 January 2024 (UTC)

Matthew Brown
Born
EducationTexas Christian University
Occupation(s)Businessman, investor, philanthropist
Known forMajority owner of Energent, L.P.
Chairman of Matthew Brown Companies
Spouse
Tawni Reynolds
(m. 2017; div. 2021)

Matthew Brown is a Texas and Hawaiian-based entrepreneur, private equity/venture investor and space enthusiast. He was previously the chairman at Tamra-Tacoma Capital Partners, a $500 million fund (with investments in Urban Green Energy and Leaf Solar Power), as well as asset manager Kona Private Capital Group, a ~$900 million fund for Hawaiian residential and commercial real estate.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

edit

Brown was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, but did not graduate.[2][3]

Career

edit

Through Matthew Brown Companies and its investment group, Brown invests in biospace/tech, therapeutics, diagnostics and space ventures, including SpaceX and OpenAI, among others.[4][5][6] Most recently, he was involved in the attempt to acquire Virgin Orbit Intellectual Property and intends to license it to the masses through one of his subsidiaries, Partager Aerospace[7], though with controversy.[8]

Quartz stated that Brown's business experience claims were "questionable"[9][10] in the wake of the failed rescue of Virgin Orbit[11], though Brown denies the accusations. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a fraud lawsuit against him.[12]

In addition, this was not Brown's first attack on the Virgin Orbit transaction, this time criticizing the Virgin Orbit board and management on his personal LinkedIn:

"The same day Virgin Orbit announced it was pausing its operations (according to multiple media outlets), the Board approved a golden parachute severance plan for management. Given the unstable financial position of V.O. at the time, I am not certain which is more egregious: that the Board would consider such a severance plan to be proper management oversight or that Management would consider it warranted."[13][14]

Brown was a consultant to several institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley, the Texas Tech Wind Institute, the Department of Defense, among others.[15][9]

Personal life

edit

Brown married Tawni Catherine Reynolds on July 23, 2017, sister to Dallas socialite Miranda Hogue[16], friend of Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes[17][18]. Brown and Reynolds divorced on November 1, 2021. Brown resides in Hawaii.

References

edit
  1. ^ Karabus, Jude. "Struggling Virgin Orbit in funding talks with VC". www.theregister.com.
  2. ^ a b Waters, Rick (July 2, 2015). "TCU spirit with Neil DeGrasse Tyson". TCU Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Exactly who is the investor behind Virgin Orbit's failed $200 million rescue?". Quartz. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Roulette, Joey; Krolicki, Kevin. "Insight: Virgin Orbit's would-be white knight and a $200 million rescue that fell flat". Reuters.
  5. ^ Sheetz, Michael (March 23, 2023). "Investing in Space: The latecomer". CNBC. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  6. ^ "Matthew Brown Companies confirms it's in funding talks with Virgin Orbit • The Register Forums". forums.theregister.com. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "Partager Aerospace Company Profile: Valuation, Funding & Investors | PitchBook".
  8. ^ "Matthew Brown to Become Shareholder and Advisor to Partager Aerospace". PRLog. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Exactly who is the investor behind Virgin Orbit's failed $200 million rescue?". Quartz. March 31, 2023.
  10. ^ "Virgin Orbit's Legal Showdown: Bankruptcy Triggers Threat of Action Against Prospective Investor". Yahoo Finance. April 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Sheetz, Michael (March 23, 2023). "Investing in Space: The latecomer". CNBC.
  12. ^ "'Bogus Offer' for Virgin Orbit by Investor Triggers SEC Suit". Bloomberg News. June 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "Matthew Brown on LinkedIn: W/R/T Virgin Orbit: I will not comment on the specifics or generalities…". www.linkedin.com.
  14. ^ "Virgin Orbit raising $200 million from investor Matthew Brown, closing deal as soon as Thursday". CNBC. March 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy". Sustainable WI.
  16. ^ Pease, Kate. "Preppy Brunch Wedding at Firefly Gardens in Midlothian, Texas". The Knot.
  17. ^ "Brittany Mahomes' pal recaps Taylor Swift-filled weekend in NYC". October 2, 2023.
  18. ^ Lemoncelli, Jenna (April 22, 2024). "Brittany Mahomes stuns during bikini-clad day with friends in Cabo". Retrieved April 26, 2024.