Cole Zucker

ZuVi Investments 

Joint family office focused on lower mid market private equity.

Managing Partner

Member - Santa Monica Chapter

Hey Hero Labs

Acquired by Sanctuary Ventures January 2022

Co-Founder

GREEN CREATIVE

Provides LED lighting products to North America.

Co-CEO & Co-Founder

Everbright Engineering

VP of Sales

I'm Cole, an entrepreneur with a running addiction. 

I am a Co-Managing Partner at Zuvi Investments, a joint family office dedicated to helping small businesses transition into established middle-market companies. 

Previously, I was the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of GREEN CREATIVE, a commercial-grade LED lighting company. My partner and I bootstrapped the business to over $60m in annual sales, successfully exiting to a PE fund. Our journey is chronicled in our book, “Flipping The Switch” (available now).

I was also a co-founder of Hey Hero Labs, a platform for personalized video content creation. The company was acquired by Sanctuary Ventures in 2022.

Outside of business, I'm driven by my passion for running. Having recently turned 40, I've achieved personal bests that surpass my times from 20 years ago. I'm always experimenting with new techniques and training methods to optimize performance and longevity.

Joint family office focused on low mid market private equity, angel investing, and real estate.

Zack Ellison, CFA, CAIA

Dr. Zack Ellison, DBA, CFA, CAIA

Dr. Zack Ellison is the Founder, Managing General Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of Applied Real Intelligence (A.R.I.), an investment manager providing growth capital to innovation-focused companies across North America. He leads all aspects of A.R.I.’s investment platform, including origination, underwriting, structuring, execution, and portfolio oversight.

He also serves as Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Lights Out Sports, where he provides governance oversight, operational leadership, and capital allocation discipline across the company’s combat sports, live events, and streaming media businesses.

Previously, Dr. Ellison was Director of U.S. Public Fixed Income at Sun Life Financial. Earlier in his career, he was a corporate bond and CDS trader at Deutsche Bank and served as an investment banker at Scotiabank during the Global Financial Crisis, underwriting and managing leveraged media, technology, and telecom financings. He began his career in capital markets intelligence at Thomson Reuters.

Dr. Ellison holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Florida, an MBA from Chicago Booth School of Business, an MS in Risk Management from New York University Stern School of Business, and a BA in Economics from Swarthmore College. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations and previously held FINRA Series 7, 55, and 63 licenses.

More information on Applied Real Intelligence is available at www.arivc.com
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His interview series with leading investors, The 7 in 7 Show, can be found at www.7in7show.com

Managing General Partner & Chief Investment Officer

Zack Ellison

“𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 — 𝐎𝐕𝐎?”🦉

Many investors have asked me the same question recently.

The truth is — this wasn’t a celebrity deal.

It was a 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 deal.

What people don’t see are the hundreds of hours behind the scenes:

👉rigorous diligence far beyond the headline
👉deep financial, operational, and legal structuring
👉underwriting the brand’s durability, not its celebrity
👉building a growth capital solution with real downside protection
👉aligning around a long-term global expansion plan

Because at the end of the day, the question isn’t 𝒘𝒉𝒐 is behind a company…

It’s whether the business has the authenticity, discipline, and staying power to scale globally.

That’s exactly what we found in October's Very Own (OVO) — one of the most culturally credible lifestyle brands in the world.

Drop me a comment if you'd like to learn more. 

#Investing #ConsumerBrands #OVO #Drake #GrowthCapital #AlternativeInvestments

Dr. Zack Ellison, MBA, MS, CFA, CAIA

Investment Fund Manager | Board Chairman | Author | 100,000+ Newsletter Readers | LinkedIn Top Voice

The market is sending a very clear signal right now about culturally authentic, celebrity-founded brands — but not all of the most successful ones are household names 𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴.

🦉 October's Very Own (OVO) is a good example.

Founded in Toronto in 2008 by 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐥-𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐚𝐡 “40” 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐛, OVO has quietly grown into a globally scaled lifestyle company with flagship retail locations across North America and internationally, alongside a significant e-commerce platform.

What makes OVO compelling isn’t celebrity alone. It’s durability — nearly two decades of cultural relevance paired with operational execution.

Under CEO 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐤 “𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐱” 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐫’𝐬 leadership, the brand is now entering its next phase of global expansion with clarity and focus.

That long-term sustainability is what attracted my attention as an investor, and why my firm, Applied Real Intelligence LLC ("A.R.I."​), is excited to announce our growth capital investment in OVO.

🔗 Full press release:
https://lnkd.in/egJ3m-ey

#CanadianBusiness #Investing #Innovation #Entertainment #ConsumerBrands

People often ask me what led A.R.I. to invest in October's Very Own (OVO) — 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞.

There were many factors, but one that mattered a great deal was something very simple:

I’ve seen firsthand how the product resonates.

When I wear an OVO hoodie, polo, or t-shirt — whether I’m at a restaurant, on a plane, at the gym, or at an event — I get stopped.

By everyday consumers and by A-listers alike.

People who know, 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘.

They love the brand.

And when people don’t know it yet, they ask about it — because they’re drawn to the owl and the quality of the clothing.

OVO has many things going for it, including a strong operating team and ownership by Drake, Oliver El-Khatib, and Noah “40” Shebib.

But ultimately, as an investor, I’m able to observe how the brand connects with consumers in the real world — consistently and organically.

That perspective matters.

As the great 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐜𝐡 famously demonstrated, investing in what you know — and what you can directly observe — is a 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲.

It still works.

👉 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀.𝐑.𝐈.'𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐕𝐎:

https://lnkd.in/egJ3m-ey

#Investing #PrivateCapital #PrivateEquity #PE #PrivateCredit #ConsumerBrands #BrandBuilding #GrowthInvesting #OVO #ARI

“What is that big owl on 𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐚’𝐬 sweatshirt? It’s really cool.”

That was a real question someone asked me.

The answer is October's Very Own’s Very Own (OVO) — the lifestyle brand founded by 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐥-𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐚𝐡 “40” 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐛 that has grown into a globally scaled platform spanning fashion, sports, retail, and e-commerce.

What mattered to A.R.I. as an investor wasn’t the logo (although I do think it's iconic). 🦉

It was the pattern behind it.

OVO shows up repeatedly — by choice — on top global celebrities and in environments where selection standards are high, including long-standing collaborations with the National Football League (NFL), NBA, MLB, and NHL. 

Those relationships require scale, operational discipline, and institutional trust.

That consistency — across people, institutions, and time — was a key factor in A.R.I.’s decision to invest in OVO.

It’s a useful reminder that some of the most durable brands are discovered through signals, not slogans.

➡️ Learn more:
https://lnkd.in/etXgFCGe

#Brands #ConsumerBrands #Investing #Sports #Entertainment #OVO #SportsBusiness

The Patriots just won the AFC Championship.

Growing up in Boston in the 80s, they stunk.

They didn’t become respectable until the late 90s.

I was at the Snow Bowl in Foxboro in 2001 (the “tuck rule game”) when we barely beat the Raiders and finally turned the corner.

People remember all the Super Bowls that came after and the legend of Tom Brady.
 
But they likely don’t remember all the work that went into building the Patriots — year after year — behind the scenes, led by the Kraft family and an organization committed to doing things the right way.

What I’ve always respected most about the Patriots culture is simple:

• Accountability
• Team-first execution
• Relentless preparation
• Consistency over hype
• Process over noise

This is what makes winning become a habit.

The same is true in business and investing.

A.R.I.’s growth-capital investment in October's Very Own — Drake’s flagship lifestyle and apparel brand — reflects that same principle: 

the strongest outcomes are built on years of disciplined execution and hard work that happens far from the spotlight.

Outcomes look sudden from the outside.

But they’re always earned quietly over time.

Success, in the end, is really just the compounding of the little victories that no one sees and all the work done when no one is watching.

As someone who grew up with the New England Patriots, this one feels special.

See you at the Super Bowl.

#Patriots #OVO #NFL #ARIVC #Leadership #Execution #Performance #PrivateCredit #Investing #SuperBowl

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𝐒𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐂 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓!

Attention is not authority.

We live in an era where reach is often mistaken for expertise.

Social media has handed massive platforms to 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 and that creates 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤.

In business, investing, and life, misinformation doesn’t just confuse people.

It costs time.
It destroys capital.
It derails careers.
It damages reputations.

That’s why 𝐈 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 to use before taking advice or amplifying a voice:

𝐒𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐂 ➡️ 𝐒how 𝐌e 𝐔𝐑:

• 𝐂haracter – Do you act with integrity when incentives turn against you?
• 𝐂ompetence – Can you actually do the thing you claim to understand?
• 𝐂redentials – Have you earned the right to speak in this domain?

If someone cannot demonstrate all three, what they say should be heavily discounted—especially when the stakes are high.

This matters more than ever because:

• Large platforms amplify weak signals
• Confidence is confused with competence
• Opinion travels faster than evidence

I unpack this framework in the 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐤’𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, including why the order matters and how to apply it in practice.

Before you follow advice.
Before you share content.
Before you make a consequential decision

𝐒𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐂 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓.

Show Me UR Character.
Show Me UR Competence.
Show Me UR Credentials.

Anything less is just noise.

#SMURC #SignalNotNoise #Judgment #Leadership #Business #Investing #CriticalThinking

We live in an era where reach is often mistaken for expertise. Social media has dramatically lowered the cost of broadcasting an opinion. That shift i

Open article: SMURC: A Simple Filter for Truth in a Noisy World by Dr. Zack Ellison, MBA, MS, CFA, CAIA • 4 min read

SMURC: A Simple Filter for Truth in a Noisy World

𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐳𝐤𝐲 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞) famously said he skated to where the puck was going — not where it had been. 🏒

That’s how leaders operate.

They move early and shape what follows.

Tastemakers and thought leaders don’t wait for consensus.

At Applied Real Intelligence LLC ("A.R.I."​) we invest where the market is heading — not where the crowd eventually arrives.

That’s why October's Very Own (OVO) stood out to us early.

🦉 Learn more about A.R.I.'s investment in OVO: https://lnkd.in/ePc_Hz_n

#WayneGretzky #SportsBusiness #GlobalBrands #NHL #OVO

I recently learned of the passing of Daniel Hughes.

This is so unexpected and heartbreaking.

Over the years, we had many conversations about how athletes and entertainers can use their influence to achieve better investment outcomes and build lasting businesses. 

What always struck me about Danny was his integrity. Even in private conversations, it was clear he was genuinely focused on doing right by the athletes he worked with and helping them achieve positive long-term outcomes.

In a world where so many people in business are driven by ego or self-interest, Danny was consistently generous, thoughtful, and oriented toward others.

He was a true mentor and played a meaningful role in advancing the business careers of many former athletes. He always treated me fairly, and he had a rare ability to pursue ambitious goals while still doing things the right way.

He helped advance the careers of dozens of people I know personally, and I’m sure there are hundreds more whose lives he impacted quietly behind the scenes.

He will be deeply missed. I will miss his authenticity, his generosity, and the way he showed up with genuine care for others.

My heartfelt condolences to his wife Jannette, his mother Patti, his brother John, and everyone mourning this tremendous loss.

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