Daniel Lubetzky Explained

Daniel Lubetzky
Birth Place:Mexico City, Mexico
Nationality:Mexican, American
Alma Mater:Trinity University (BA)
Stanford University (JD)
Known For:Founder of snack company Kind LLC
Executive chairman, Kind LLC
Children:4
Relatives:Emmanuel Lubezki (cousin)

Daniel Lubetzky (born 1968) is an American billionaire businessman, philanthropist, author, and founder and executive chairman[1] [2] [3] of snack company Kind LLC.[4]

Early life and education

Lubetzky is the son of Sonia and Roman Lubetzky. A Holocaust survivor and a Lithuanian Ashkenazi Jew,[5] Lubetzky's father was a partner in International Bonded Warehouses and United Export Trading Association, two duty-free shop chains with headquarters in Laredo, Texas. Daniel Lubetzky was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico.[6] As a teenager, he moved with his family to the U.S.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and international relations, graduating magna cum laude, from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. As an undergraduate, he studied abroad in Israel and France.[7] [8] Lubetzky then earned his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1993.[9]

In March 2008, Lubetzky married Michelle Lynn Lieberman, a physician.[10] They have four children.[11] Lubetzky is the cousin of three-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki.[12]

Business career

While in college Lubetzky created a retail watch operation, Da'Leky Times.[13] After graduating from law school, Lubetzky worked briefly at Sullivan & Cromwell[14] and at McKinsey & Company.[14]

In 1993, Lubetzky was awarded a Haas Koshland Fellowship[15] to write about legislative means[16] to foster joint ventures between Arabs and Israelis. While carrying out his research, he discovered a sun-dried tomato product that provided the foundation for PeaceWorks Inc.[17] in 1994. PeaceWorks is a "not-Only-for-profit" business pursuing both peace and profit. Its flagship brand – Meditalia[18] – is made through cooperation among neighbors striving to co-exist in the Middle East.

In 2003, concerned about unhealthy snacking choices and the rising obesity and diabetes epidemic in America, Lubetzky launched Kind Snacks with the slogan "Kind to your body, your taste buds and your world". In 2015, Kind was the fastest-growing snack company in the US.[19]

In 2010, Lubetzky co-founded Maiyet,[20] a luxury fashion venture committed to partnering with artisans in developing economies to create high-end products, while promoting self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship.

In 2015, President Barack Obama and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker named him a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship.[21] In 2018, Lubetzky founded a New York-based family office, Equilibra, which backs entrepreneur-run businesses that offer packaged goods to consumers; investments include Greek yogurt brand Ellenos, and social enterprise Yellow Leaf Hammocks.[22] [23] As of November 2021, Lubetzky had a net worth of $2.2 billion.[24]

In November 2020, it was announced that Kind North America would be purchased by Mars in a deal worth $5 billion. Lubetzky said he would retain his stake in the company and remain involved in its operations.[25] [26] [27]

In September 2021, Lubetzky teamed up with two of Kind's former executives to create Somos (meaning "we are" in Spanish), an authentic Mexican food company.[28] [29]

In January 2023, Lubetzky relaunched Equilibra as Camino Partners, a business incubation and investment platform.[30]

In May 2024, Lubetzky was one of a group of billionaires and business interests who privately pressured New York City Mayor Eric Adams to deploy police on pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. A WhatsApp group with some of the country’s wealthiest people detailed donations to Adams’s campaign and conversations with the mayor. Some of those involved include real estate magnate Barry Sternlicht; Daniel Lubetzky, founder of the Kind Snacks brand; hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb; and founder of Thor Equities, Joseph Sitt. [31]

Investments

Lubetzky established Equilibra Partners Management Inc. in 2018. The firm backs entrepreneur-run businesses that offer packaged goods to consumers.[32]

In May 2020, Equilibra purchased a 25% stake in Yellow Leaf Hammocks for $1 million when Lubetzky sat as a guest shark on Shark Tank.[33]

In 2020, Equilibra invested $18 million in Greek yogurt company Ellenos.[34] [35] Towards the end of the year, it made a $250,000 investment in FitFighter, a fitness brand which began with equipment for firefighter training programs and expanded to full-body fitness tools and workouts.[36]

In 2021, Equilibra purchased a 10% stake in Quevos,[37] an egg white protein snacks company, also on Shark Tank.[38] That same year, they invested in Tandm Inc., a family-owned business that created a tandem boogie board.[39]

Other investments include: Cava Group,[40] Justin's, Krave Jerky, gimme Snacks,[41] Chapul,[42] food company Belgian Boys,[43] and HummViewer.[44]

Media

Lubetzky is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Do the Kind Thing, Think Boundlessly, Work Purposefully, Live Passionately.[45] The book is based on Lubetzky's entrepreneurial experience, and was inspired by his father's stories from the Holocaust.[46] Lubetzky has also published multiple opinion posts to CNN describing his opinions on how to stop violent extremists and lessons he will pass on to his children.[47]

Since 2019 Lubetzky has been a recurring guest shark on Shark Tank from Season 11-Present.[48]

Philanthropy and advocacy initiatives

In 2002, he co-founded the OneVoice Movement, an international grassroots effort, to amplify the voices of moderate Israelis and Palestinians seeking to end the conflict.[49]

In 2015, Lubetzky and Kind Snacks created the Kind Foundation. Its signature initiative, Empatico, is a video-conferencing and digital learning platform that connects classrooms around the world to help kids explore their similarities and differences and expand their world views.[50]

In 2017, he launched a public advocacy organization called Feed the Truth to counteract the food industry's influence on food policy and public health. He pledged $25 million to the organization.[51]

In April 2020, Lubetzky's Kind Foundation launched the Frontline Impact Project in consultation with Project N95. The project is a platform for healthcare and other frontline responders to request resources needed in the fight against COVID-19. As of May 14, 2020, Frontline Impact Project had partnered with more than 40 brands including Unilever, Nestle, and Mars, reaching more than 180,000 people working mostly in hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient medical practices.[52] [53] [54]

In 2021, Lubetzky launched Starts With Us. Its movement partners include Jason Alexander, Mark Cuban, and Andrew Yang, amongst others.[55] [56]

In September 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Lubetzky Family Foundation announced a scholarship program for Ukrainian students studying in the US. The program was launched in partnership with Jose Andres and Garry Kasparov.[57]

Involvement in advocacy and influence

In 2019, Lubetzky was appointed to the Anti-Defamation League's inaugural board of directors.[58]

Lubetzky was involved in a long-standing WhatsApp group chat from October 2023 through early May 2024 with some of the United States' most powerful business leaders with the stated goals of "chang[ing] the narrative" in favor of Israel and "help[ing] win the war" on U.S. public opinion following Hamas's October 7th attack on Israel.[59] Members of the group chat discussed how they received private briefings by, and worked closely with, members of the Israeli government, including former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett; Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli war cabinet; and Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog.[59]

Members of the 2023-2024 WhatsApp group chat, including Lubetzky, also held a video call in April 2024 with New York City Mayor Eric Adams in an effort to, according to reporting by The Washington Post, "pressure Columbia’s president and trustees to permit the mayor to send police to the campus" to shut down criticism of Israel's offensive military operations in Gaza, which many campus protesters, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, civil servants, and governments around the world have alleged to be genocide.[59] During the video call, group members discussed making political donations to Adams.[59] Following the video call, Lubetzky suggested that group members should take specific concrete steps, including resharing a link to offer financial support to Adams, calling and writing to Columbia’s president and board of trustees, and, according to the Post, “getting Black Leaders to condemn Anti-Semitism,” asking if anyone in the group knew Jay-Z, Beyoncé, or LeBron James.[59] A spokesperson for Lubetzky said he did not donate to Adams.[59]

Awards and recognition

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Fireside Chat with Daniel Lubetzky, Founder and Executive Chairman, Kind Snacks . 2020-06-07. NYU Stern.
  2. Web site: Lubetzky. Daniel. 2020-05-15. Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky: My number-one lesson from 'Shark Tank'. 2020-06-07. Fast Company.
  3. Web site: 2019-12-17. Conversations at the Top: Daniel Lubetzky. 2020-06-07. Hispanic Executive. en.
  4. Web site: Daniel . Lubetsky . Home . Kind Snacks.
  5. Web site: Excerpt: Do the Kind Thing by Daniel Lubetzky. March 30, 2015 . Jewish Book Council. 2 September 2015.
  6. Web site: Keishin Armstrong. Jennifer. Setting a High Bar. Fast Company . 2 September 2015.
  7. Web site: Speaker Series: The Power of AND: Learning to think with AND instead of OR to accomplish seemingly incompatible goals . New York University.
  8. Web site: Trinity University to Hold Commencement May 14. Trinity University. September 2, 2015. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035050/http://web.trinity.edu/x10084.xml. dead.
  9. Web site: Peace, Kindness, and Understanding – and Snacks. Driscoll. Sharon. Stanford Lawyer.
  10. News: Weddings: Michelle Lieberman and Daniel Lubetzky . 5 March 2019 . The New York Times . 9 March 2008.
  11. Web site: Using Business as a Force for Social Good. AARP. 5 March 2019.
  12. Web site: So proud of my cousin Emmanuel Lubezki for his BAFTA for Birdman! As Michael Keaton said, a genius and a mentsch! . Daniel. Lubetzky. 11 February 2015. Twitter . 5 March 2019.
  13. Web site: Speaker Series: The Power of AND: Learning to think with AND instead of OR to accomplish seemingly incompatible goals. New York University.
  14. Book: Lubetzky. Daniel. Do the Kind Thing: Think Boundlessly, Work Purposefully, Live Passionately. Mar 31, 2015. Random House Publishing Group . 9780553393248. 18. 2 September 2015.
  15. Web site: Past Haas/Koshland Memorial Award winners. Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund.
  16. News: Rozycki. Bob. Daniel Lubetzky: Try a Little Kind-ness. 2 September 2015. WAG. July 2015. June 30, 2015.
  17. News: Fabricant. Florence. A Young Entrepreneur Makes Food, Not War. 2 September 2015. . November 30, 1996.
  18. Web site: Meditalia Foods - Mediterranean Pestos & Tapenades . Meditalia Foods.
  19. News: Spencer. Susan. The fastest-growing energy bar, bar none. 2 September 2015. CBS News. April 12, 2015.
  20. News: Menkes. Suzy. Maiyet Embraces the Human Touch. The New York Times. November 14, 2012 .
  21. Web site: About the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship. Department of Commerce, United States of America. September 2, 2015. September 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150906104026/https://www.commerce.gov/PAGE. dead.
  22. News: Cooper. Laura. 2020-02-25. Kind Bar Founder Backs Yogurt Brand Ellenos. en-US. The Wall Street Journal. 2020-06-15. 0099-9660.
  23. Web site: Kind Bar Founder Invests In Yellow Leaf Hammocks . May 18, 2020 . 2020-06-15. SGB Media.
  24. Web site:
    1. 1517 Daniel Lubetzky
    . November 3, 2021. Forbes.
  25. News: Sorkin. Andrew Ross. Hirsch. Lauren. 2020-11-17. Kind Bars to Be Acquired by Maker of Snickers. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-12-08. 0362-4331.
  26. Web site: Au-Yeung. Angel. Billionaires United: Candy Maker Mars To Acquire Kind Bars In $5 Billion Deal. 2020-12-08. Forbes. en.
  27. Web site: Kind and Mars Announce Next Step in Partnership to Build a Kinder World and Bring Healthy Snacks to People Worldwide Mars to acquire Kind North America; Partnership will build on growth across geographies and categories . Mars, Incorporated . Press Release . 17 November 2020 . 20 November 2020.
  28. Web site: Kind Bar Founder Launches Somos To Bring Traditional Mexican Flavor And Techniques To The $1.9 Trillion Latinx Market. September 28, 2021. Forbes.
  29. Web site: Kind Founder, Former Executives Launch Somos, a Mexican Food Brand Built on Authenticity. September 28, 2021. Businesshala . https://web.archive.org/web/20211104213631/https://businesshala.com/kind-founder-former-executives-launch-somos-a-mexican-food-brand-built-on-authenticity/ . November 4, 2021.
  30. Web site: Hall . Christine . 2023-01-24 . Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky begins new 'journey' with Camino Partners . 2023-05-29 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  31. Web site: WaPo: Billionaires and Execs Urged Eric Adams to Send Police to Columbia's Gaza Encampment . .
  32. Web site: What is Daniel Lubetzky's net worth? 'Shark Tank' billionaire invests $1M in Yellow Leaf Hammocks for 25% equity. May 14, 2021. Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide.
  33. Web site: 'Shark Tank': Why multiple Sharks wanted a piece of this hammock company—that walked away with a $1 million deal. May 18, 2020. CNBC.
  34. Web site: Kind bar owner backs yogurt brand Ellenos. February 25, 2020. The Wall Street Journal.
  35. Web site: Kind Founder Invests 18m in Yogurt Brand Ellenos. February 25, 2020. FoodDive.
  36. Web site: How Sarah Apgar and Fitfighter are Changing Fitness. n.d.. Muscle & Fitness.
  37. Web site: High protein & low carb: Kind snacks founder invests in egg white-based snack brand Quevos. January 25, 2021. Food Ingredients First.
  38. Web site: Kind Snacks Founder Daniel Lubetzky Announces Investment in Protein Chips Company Quevos on Shark Tank. January 22, 2021. Forbes.
  39. Web site: Tandem Boogie Created by San Clemente Family Nabs Shark Tank Deal. March 15, 2021. Orange County Register.
  40. Web site: CAVA receives 190 million investment to fuel expansion. April 27, 2021. QSR.
  41. Web site: Snack disruptor Daniel Lubetzky sets his sights on a new category. February 25, 2020. Bakeryandsnacks.com.
  42. Web site: Kind Snacks Daniel Lubetzky Invests in Craft Yogurt Brand Ellenos, Announces 'New Big' Investment Soon. February 25, 2020. Forbes.
  43. Web site: Yu . Douglas . After 7 Years Of Bootstrapping, Snacks Company Belgian Boys Receives Backing From Kind's Daniel Lubetzky . 2023-05-29 . Forbes . en.
  44. Web site: Amundson . Ken . 2022-12-04 . NoCo startup scores investment on Shark Tank . 2023-05-29 . BizWest . en-US.
  45. Web site: Books: Best Sellers: Business . May 2015 . The New York Times.
  46. Web site: The Amazing Story Behind that Kind Bar You're Eating. March 30, 2015. USA Today.
  47. Web site: Lubetzky . Daniel . 2021-01-12 . There's only one way to stop violent extremists . 2023-01-31 . CNN . en.
  48. Web site: Yildirim . Ece . 2023-11-02 . Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky: The No. 1 green flag I look for before hiring anyone—especially a Gen Z candidate . 2024-02-17 . CNBC . en.
  49. Web site: OneVoice International . 2019-03-18.
  50. News: Kind's Foundation Is Investing $20 Million To Teach Kids Empathy Fast Company. 2017-10-17. Fast Company. 2017-10-19. en-US.
  51. News: Why one food executive is pledging $25 million to fight his own industry. Dewey. Caitlin. 2017-02-15. . 2017-10-16. en-US. 0190-8286.
  52. Web site: The Kind Foundation and Project N95 Launch the 'Frontline Impact Project', a Platform to Support the People Risking Their Lives to Keep Us Safe. 2020-04-14. AP News. 2020-06-01.
  53. Web site: How Kind Prepared for the Crisis It Never Could Have Predicted. Winfrey. Graham. 2020-05-12. . 2020-06-01.
  54. Web site: Donations are pouring in during the coronavirus pandemic. But how do you get them to those in need?. Srikanth. Anagha. 2020-04-17. . 2020-06-01.
  55. Web site: Debevoise . Nell Derick . How Might Social Media Drive Compassion, Curiosity And Courage? . 2023-05-29 . Forbes . en.
  56. Web site: Singman . Brooke . 2022-06-29 . Recurring 'Shark Tank' entrepreneur Daniel Lubetzky launches movement to combat culture wars: 'Starts with Us' . 2023-05-29 . Fox News . en-US.
  57. News: Hounshell . Blake . 2022-09-06 . Enlisting Ukrainian Students to Promote Democracy in America . en-US . The New York Times . subscription . 2023-05-29 . 0362-4331.
  58. Web site: Our Leadership & Staff. . 2019-03-18.
  59. News: Natanson . Hannah . Felton . Emmanuel . Business titans privately urged NYC mayor to use police on Columbia protesters, chats show . May 17, 2024 . . May 16, 2024.
  60. Web site: Executive Profile Daniel Lubetzky. Bloomberg News.
  61. Web site: Daniel Lubetzky. World Economic Forum. https://web.archive.org/web/20151213015324/http://www.weforum.org/young-global-leaders/daniel-lubetzky . 2015-12-13.
  62. Web site: Alumni Awards. Trinity University. September 2, 2015. September 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150910041934/https://new.trinity.edu/alumni/your-alumni-association/alumni-awards. dead.
  63. Web site: Alumni Relations . Trinity University . https://web.archive.org/web/20100528134327/http://www.trinity.edu/departments/alumni_relations/alumni_awards_winners.htm . May 28, 2010 .
  64. Web site: 2004 WANGO Award Recipients. Wango.
  65. Web site: Trustee Dinner. Catholic Theological Union.
  66. Web site: Driscoll. Sharon. In Focus Peace, Kindness, and Understanding – and Snacks. Stanford Lawyer. Stanford University.
  67. Web site: National Committee on United States - China Relations.
  68. News: Social Capitalists: Peaceworks Foundation. 2 September 2015. . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123803/http://www.fastcompany.com/social/2008/profiles/peaceworks-foundation.html. 24 September 2015. dead.
  69. Web site: Skoll Awards Overview. Skoll Foundation.
  70. News: Perman. Stacy. America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs. 2 September 2015 . Bloomberg News. April 3, 2009.
  71. News: Sierra-Sampson. Patricia. Changing the Game: Daniel Lubetzky, CEO of Kind Snacks, Shares his Ingredient for Purposeful Success. 2 September 2015. Latin Post . May 11, 2015.
  72. News: Wang. Jennifer. Meet the Entrepreneur of 2010 Award Winners. 2 September 2015. Entrepreneur. January 2011. . December 20, 2010.
  73. News: Creativity 50 2013: Daniel Lubetzky. 2 September 2015. . June 5, 2013.
  74. Web site: Builders and Innovators 2013. Goldman Sachs. 2 September 2015.
  75. News: Press release Ernst & Young LLP today announced the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2013 Award winners in New York. . . 19 June 2013 . 2 September 2015.
  76. Web site: Heroes of Conscious Capitalism – 2017 Class. Conscious Capitalism. 2017-10-19. October 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171020033712/https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/blog/heroes-of-conscious-capitalism-2017-class. dead.
  77. Web site: 2017 Common Ground Awards. . 2017-12-06.
  78. Web site: Target to present Hispanic Heritage Award for Entrepreneurship to Daniel Lubetzky – Kind healthy snacks Founder and CEO . September 5, 2018 . Hispanic Heritage Foundation. 2018-10-17.
  79. Web site: Kind Healthy Snacks Founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky to Receive 2019 Horatio Alger Award . . 2019-01-02.
  80. Web site: 2023-06-28 . Pedro Pascal and World Bank's Ajay Banga among those named to Carnegie's 2023 Great Immigrants list . 2024-06-17 . AP News . en.

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