Joshua Kushner

Joshua Kushner (born June 12, 1985) is the founder and Managing Partner of the investment firm Thrive Capital.

Early life, personal life and education

Joshua Kushner grew up in a Jewish family in Livingston, New Jersey.^[1] He is the son of Seryl (née Stadtmauer) and real estate developer Charles Kushner. He graduated from Harvard University in 2008 and Harvard Business School in 2011.^[2][3] His brother, Jared Kushner, is the principal owner of Kushner Properties, his family’s real estate holding and development company, and The New York Observer, a newspaper publishing company which he purchased in 2005. He is the boyfriend of top model Karlie Kloss.^[4]

Career

Goldman Sachs

Kushner started his career in the Private Equity Group at Goldman Sachs, in the Merchant Banking Division.^[5]

Thrive Capital

In 2009, Kushner founded Thrive Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm that focuses on media and internet investments.^[6] Since its founding, Thrive has raised $200 million from institutional investors, including Princeton University, Wellcome Trust, and Hall Capital.^[7]

The New York Times reported in September 2012, that Kushner raised $150 million for the firm’s most recent fund- Thrive III $150. Previous funds included the $40 million Thrive II, which was raised in late 2011.^[7]

According to a profile in Forbes, Thrive was one of three firms (joining Sequoia Capital and Greylock Partners) to invest in Instagram's $50 million Series B round at a valuation of $500 million. Forbes wrote that after Instagram sold to Facebook, "Thrive had doubled its money in 72 hours."^[5]

For his work with Thrive, Kushner was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and Vanity Fair’s Next Establishment.^[8][9]

Real estate

Kushner serves as a principal director of Kushner Properties, a diversified private real estate organization involved in the ownership, development, and management of multifamily, commercial, retail, industrial and hotel properties throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. In addition, its holdings include the Observer Media Group, of which Kushner is a board member. He is also a vice chairman of Art.sy^[10] and is on the Paley Center’s board of trustees.^[11]

Vostu

In 2007, during his junior year at Harvard, Kushner co-founded Vostu. The company has since grown to be the largest social gaming company in Latin America and is now headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Over 20% of Brazil's internet population plays the company's games.^[3][6] Kushner has since left Vostu to focus on Thrive.

Oscar

Kushner is hoping to reinvent health insurance through a new startup called Oscar. The company will launch its pilot program this fall in New York. Kushner has raised 40 million for Oscar in his first round of investments.^[12]

References