85. McConnell Smith, Partner at VMG Partners

Today I'm joined by McConnell Smith of VMG Partners — a private equity firm focused on growth-stage investments.    In this episode, we explore emerging opportunities across fitness and wellness. We discuss VMG's new $850M fund, including the firm's approach to backing consumer- and health-focused brands. And McConnell talks about VMG's investment in [solidcore] — a Pilates-based boutique fitness concept.    More from McConnell    McConnell is a partner at VMG Partners, a growth equity fund focused on partnering with emerging, high-growth, health and wellness focused consumer brands. He has worked closely with a number of VMG's investments, including [solidcore], Quest, Sun Bum, Nutpods, Justin's, Solid Gold, Vermont Smoke & Cure, and Hello Bello, among others. McConnell joined VMG in 2016 and focuses on the nutrition, wellness, and fitness categories.   Prior to VMG, he worked in the consumer investment banking groups at Piper Sandler and KeyBanc Capital Markets, and before that was a member of L'Oreal's supply chain finance team.   McConnell grew up in Cleveland and attended Yale University where he played (quite poorly) wide receiver on the Yale football team.   More from Fitt Insider   Fitt Insider is a newsletter and podcast on the business of fitness and wellness.   Join industry-leading operators and investors by subscribing: http://insider.fitt.co