FOUNDING LETTER
We came together to build this company from three very different backgrounds, each of us taking wildly different paths to get here. But we all shared an overwhelming curiosity, a deep interest in shaping the future, and similar values. And we all loved the thrill of starting and growing companies. Peter and Jesse teamed up to launch The Chernin Group in 2010, and Mike joined in 2015. Our collective experiences, respect, and admiration for one another have shaped The Chernin Group.
To scale our approach, we’ve evolved from a holding company into an investment firm—TCG. In many ways, it’s the same team running back the same playbook. We remain singularly focused on investing in platforms and brands that shape culture.
Over the past 15 years, we’ve partnered with entrepreneurs and management teams who have built brands and platforms that capture attention, spark passion, and create loyal communities. Each time, we learned more about how people’s behaviors were shifting—how they engaged with media, how they connected with brands, and how they expressed fandom. When we spotted patterns that pointed toward lasting cultural movements, opportunities soon followed.
In the beginning, our strongest focus was on sports, media and content. We had a vision of how technology would reshape the landscape, how new businesses would emerge with powerful brand identities, die-hard fan bases, and sustainable models. We were drawn to businesses built on direct relationships—whether through subscriptions, digital communities, or content platforms. We gravitated toward founders who had done the hard work of creating something great but needed support to scale. When we found teams we believed in, we invested, rolled up our sleeves, and encouraged them to think bigger. Along the way, we provided guidance, helped recruit top talent, and offered access to capital.
Our playbook has remained the same throughout: strong brands, engaged audiences, and visionary founders pushing culture forward. We are fortunate to have worked with so many inspiring teams.
A big part of what has made this journey so rewarding was our team. We have brought together people from diverse backgrounds who all shared the same drive, curiosity, and competitive energy.
We have accomplished a lot over the first 15 years. We’ve helped founders bring their visions to life across industries driven by passion, and we’re just getting started.
You may know us well, or maybe you’ve just heard of us in passing. Or, this might be the first time you’re learning about what we do. While we have kept a low profile, our investments and the founders we back will continue to tell our story. We hope our newest companies will further showcase our vision—bold, ambitious, and focused.
Our current fund closed in 2021 with over $1.3 billion in commitments from our investor partners. Our team is now across three offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. We’re committed to maintaining the culture we’ve built over the years—staying curious, pushing creativity, caring deeply, and doing it all with a sense of fun.
Where is the world of sports, media, and content headed next? Which companies are defining the next generation of fandom? Which founders have what it takes to win? And how can we help them get there?
Let’s find out.
Peter Chernin
Jesse Jacobs
Mike Kerns
Marcelo Ortolano is an Associate at TCG. Marcelo was previously an Investment Banking Associate at the Royal Bank of Canada and an Analyst at Bryce & Company.
Marcelo holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business.
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