Ike Kier founded KG Funds Management in 2008. He served as CEO and raised the majority of the fund’s $700 million AUM. During this time, Ike also raised two SPVs. Despite never having a down year, Ike decided to close the fund at the end of 2021. He now runs and operates his family office where he has dedicated significant resources to building a social impact portfolio.

Prior to founding KG Funds, Ike created management groups that were responsible for four successful SPACs. Those SPACs raised a collective $200 million from the public markets, meeting their management groups’ targets.

Earlier in his career, Ike practiced law. He then joined his farther at Lida Inc., a family business, and took over as CEO. He grew the company from being a regional fabric supplier in North Carolina to being the largest producer of cotton/lycra spandex fabrics globally. When Lehman took the company public in 1992, they were supplying 55% of the world’s consumption and employing 700 people. Three years later, Ike sold the business to a New York based LBO firm.

In 1999, Ike discovered eDiets, a Florida-based company helping people tailor diet plans on the internet. Ike raised capital as the lead investor and served on the company’s board. The business grew to become one of the largest sellers of diet programs over the internet. The company went public and was subsequently bought by a private equity firm.

One of Ike’s most successful business ventures started in 1989 when the FCC granted him the right to build cellular towers in the I-85 corridor between Montgomery, AL and Atlanta, GA. He held the rights for two years, and then negotiated a sale of his rights to the surrounding providers who were already encroaching on his territory. The sale of his rights brought him earnings of over 150 times his original investment.

Ike was born in Cuba. At age 8, Ike and his family came to the United States as political refugees. Ike earned a J.D. from George Washington University and a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University. Ike’s wife of over 40 years, Ellen Kier, is an established painter. They have two daughters, both of whom were brought in to advise in the investment decisions of the family office.

Gianna joins KG Funds from Morgan Stanley where she worked in Private Wealth Management. Prior to that, Gianna worked in operations for UBS.

Gianna received a BA in Political Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. While there, she competed on the Division I Women’s Soccer Team. Gianna went on to earn her master’s degree in Marketing from Vanderbilt University.