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John Durant

Founder of Wild Ventures

Austin, Texas

Overview 

John Durant is the Founder of Wild Ventures and a bestselling author of "The Paleo Manifesto" and "Spartan Fit." He has made significant contributions to the health and wellness industry through his books and investments, including advising companies like Thrive Market and Primal Kitchen. With a background in research and product development, John has successfully built a venture capital firm focusing on sectors like AgTech and Food and Beverage, while also co-authoring a book with Joe De Sena of Spartan Race, Inc.

Work Experience 

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Wild Ventures

  • Founder and General Partner

    2013 - Current

    Wild Ventures (wildventures.vc) is a seed fund focused on consumer health. Our syndicate model brings together dozens of leading figures in health & wellness to invest in great companies. We believe the best way to combat chronic conditions is lifestyle -- not scalpels, pills, bills, and shills -- so we back companies that empower people to lead healthier lives. It's not enough to criticize, we have to create a better future.

Wild Ventures is an influencer-based fund that focuses on consumer health products and technology.

wildventures.vc
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Thrive Market

  • Advisor

    2014

    Pre-launch advisor. Helped develop and execute Thrive Market's influencer program.

Thrive Market is a membership-based online company that offers natural and organic food products.

Raised $241,400,000.00 from Invus.

thrivemarket.com
PK

Primal Kitchen

  • Advisor

    2014

    Acquired by Kraft Heinz.

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Spartan Race, Inc.

  • Co-author of "Spartan Fit!" by Joe De Sena

    2016

    New York Times bestseller. Joe De Sena is a force of nature, I just wrote about it.

Spartan Race is an operator of an obstacle race and endurance brand intended to offer sports challenges and courses.

Raised $17,400,001.00 from Breakaway Ventures, Hearst Ventures and Raptor Consumer Partners.

spartan.com
PR

Penguin Random House

  • Author of "The Paleo Manifesto"

    2013

    In a strange turn in my professional career, I helped popularize paleo. Profiled in the New York Times and interviewed on The Colbert Report. Got a book deal, wrote a book. It holds up well, and several ideas became investment themes for Wild Ventures.

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Mindset Media

  • Director of Research

    2009 - 2010

  • Manager of Product Development

    2007 - 2009

Mindset Media sprang from a simple conviction: that the Internet is a brilliant direct response medium, but that it radically underserves

Raised $4,245,714.00.

mindset-media.com
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Novantas

  • Associate

    2005 - 2007

Amplero leverages machine learning and adaptive experimentation to enable marketers to achieve what's not humanly possible!

Raised $25,500,000.00 from Greycroft, Trilogy Equity Partners, Ignition Partners, Seven Peaks Ventures and Wildcat Venture Partners.

curinos.com

Education 

Investments 

Serenity Kids

Seed

Total funding: $12M

Articles About John

Relevant Websites