Fundraising Fox

Kevin Mayer

Investor

Managing Partner at Smash Capital

Los Angeles, California

Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M

About

Kevin Mayer is co-CEO and founder of Candle Media, as well as co-founder, executive chairman, and managing partner of Smash Capital. He previously served as CEO of TikTok and COO of ByteDance, where he oversaw global strategy and corporate functions across multiple business units. Prior to ByteDance, he held the position of chairman of Disney's Direct-to-Consumer and International division, where he led the development of Disney+ and managed the company's streaming services, international operations, and major acquisitions including 21st Century Fox, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.

Contact· self-published, not guessed

Experience

  1. HYBEBoard Membercurrent2026 — presentSeoul, South Korea
  2. Harvard Business SchoolBoard Membercurrent2024 — presentUnited States
  3. The Paley Center for MediaMember Board of Trusteescurrent2023 — presentUnited States
  4. Candle MediaCo-CEOcurrent2022 — presentLos Angeles County, California, United States
  5. Smash CapitalCo-Founder/ Executive Chairman/ Managing Partnercurrent2022 — presentLos Angeles, CA
  6. TinuitiBoard Member2021 — 2026
  7. SalesforceAdvisory Board Member2020 — 2025
  8. The Forest Road CompanyBoard Member2020 — 2025
  9. DAZN GroupChairman Of The Board2021 — 2023
  10. Access IndustriesAdvisor2020 — 2023
  11. ByteDanceChief Operating Officer2020Los Angeles, California, United States
  12. TikTokChief Executive Officer2020Los Angeles, California, United States
  13. The Walt Disney CompanyChairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International2018 — 2020Burbank, California
  14. The Walt Disney CompanySenior Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer2015 — 2020
  15. The Walt Disney CompanyExecutive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development2005 — 2015
  16. LEK Consulting, LLCPartner, Global Head of Media and Entertainment2002 — 2005
  17. Clear Channel CommunicationsChairman and CEO, Internet group2000 — 2002

Skills & more

Licensing9Business Development99Strategic Partnerships68Marketing Strategy35Management47Digital Strategy16Management Consulting30Leadership62Business Strategy99Corporate Development31Entrepreneurship27Emerging Markets5
+12 moreStrategyProduct ManagementStart-upsCompetitive AnalysisMergersProduct MarketingM&A experienceDigital MediaStrategic PlanningLong-term VisionInvestmentsOnline Advertising

From Kevin's professional profile.

Colleagues at Smash Capital

Aashay Shah
Vice President at Smash Capital
Amanda Salzman
Principal at Smash Capital
Brad Twohig
Co-Founder, Managing Partner at Smash Capital
Brandon Ortiz
COO, CCO at Smash Capital
Charlotte Camacho
Vice President at Smash Capital
David Urban
Operating Partner at Smash Capital
Eric Garland
Co-Founder, Managing Partner at Smash Capital
Evan Richter
Co-Founder, Managing Partner at Smash Capital

Network4

Amanda Salzman
Principal at Smash Capital
Brad Twohig
Co-Founder, Managing Partner at Smash Capital
Charlotte Camacho
Vice President at Smash Capital
Eric Garland
Co-Founder, Managing Partner at Smash Capital

Investors connected to Kevin in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kevin Mayer?
Kevin Mayer is co-CEO and founder of Candle Media, as well as co-founder, executive chairman, and managing partner of Smash Capital. He previously served as CEO of TikTok and COO of ByteDance, where he oversaw global strategy and corporate functions across multiple business units. Prior to ByteDance, he held the position of chairman of Disney's Direct-to-Consumer and International division, where he led the development of Disney+ and managed the company's streaming services, international operations, and major acquisitions including 21st Century Fox, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.
Where does Kevin Mayer work?
Kevin Mayer is Managing Partner at Smash Capital.
What check size does Kevin Mayer write?
Kevin Mayer typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
Where did Kevin Mayer go to school?
Kevin Mayer studied at Harvard Business School (MBA, General Management); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BSME, Mechanical Engineering); San Diego State University (MSEE, Electrical Engineering).

Founder mafias

Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia789

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Elad GilPhDFounded Brain Co. +1Hemant TanejaMinorFounded Hippocratic AINat FriedmanBachelor of ScienceFounded XamarinBrad FeldS.B.Founded TechstarsMatt HuangB.S.Founded HotspotsDelian AsparouhovDropoutFounded Nightingale +1

+ 782 more

Harvard Business School mafia554

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Mike Maples JrMBAFounded Pattern BreakersHristo BorisovOPM Class 64Founded PayhawkNoubar AfeyanVisiting LecturerFounded ProFound Therapeutics +12Wade MyersMBAFounded RealManage +6Ashok SanthanamMBAFounded FogLogic +2Ellen RubinMBAFounded ClearSky Data +2

+ 547 more

Salesforce mafia120

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Alexander BruehlCo-Investor ⇨ ContentfulFounded Contentful +4Eric TobiasVice President, ProductFounded Opendate +1John DillonCEOFounded Hyperion Solutions +1Richard SocherChief Scientist, EVPFounded Aixventures +1Dave KelloggSVP/GM of Service CloudFounded Marklogic +1Paul HsiaoInvestorFounded PipeDreams +1

+ 113 more

San Diego State University mafia35

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Louis Hernandez, Jr.Master of Business Administration - MBAFounded Payveris +2Brian RequarthBachelorsFounded VivaReal +1Robert SchulteMSFounded Lumatax +1Johannes RoggendorfFinanceFounded Medwing +1Ahmet BayramFounded KinexonDino VendettiBSEEFounded Crowd Street

+ 28 more

The Walt Disney Company mafia33

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Chuck DavisPresident E-Commerce, Disney Internet GroupFounded Fandango +1Pritam RoyProduct Manger- Games (Disney Interactive)Founded Fibr +1Francis deSouzaBoard MemberFounded Synth Labs +1Jhillika KumarUX Design InternFounded Mentra +1Jay GossDisney Sports Retail / ESPNFounded RxVantageStacie McCarthyMerchandiserFounded Agility Robotics

+ 26 more

Same school

Also attended Harvard Business School2,000

Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesVictoria TreygerGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesDeep NisharInvestment Team at General CatalystAdrianna MaInvestor at Index Ventures

+ 1,994 more

Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,719

Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystPhilippe LaffontFounder & CIO of Coatue ManagementNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG

+ 1,713 more

Also attended San Diego State University155

Lucas SchaubelInvestor at DN CapitalJohn GregerCPO & Portfolio Partner at Burda Principal InvestmentsAditya ReddyVice President at Sapphire VenturesEmily NorwoodManager, Marketing at Sapphire VenturesEmily StanfordInvestor at Notable CapitalMarienne CaroMarketing Lead at Qualcomm Ventures

+ 149 more

Shared employers

Also worked at The Forest Road Company2

Alfston ThomasPartner at Huntington Avenue VenturesTyler StaggsAnalyst at Smash Capital

Also worked at DAZN Group5

Andrea PicchiOperating Partner at Mangusta CapitalAndrea RadrizzaniChairman and Founder at Aser VenturesAlberto TenconiPartner at Sequel Venture PartnersGuillaume d'HautevilleExecutive Vice Chairman at Access IndustriesJan StehlíkCTO at Briefcase

Also worked at Access Industries13

Alex ShmulovichPrincipal at Viola VenturesDaniel ShinarCEO at ClaltechEugene BorisovPartner at Kama FlowChristine BorowskiVice President at Access BiotechnologyKristin GilbertsonInvestor at Access IndustriesPeter ThorenInvestor at Access Industries

+ 7 more

Also worked at The Walt Disney Company122

Tyler WilsonSenior Accountant at Felicis VenturesArmando AlvarezFinance Manager at Westlake Village BioPartnersChuck DavisOperating Partner at TCVJessica PouleurPartner at Openspace VenturesMike DudasInvestor at 6th Man VenturesEmilio Maglione-FulcoHead of Operations at 6th Man Ventures

+ 116 more