Who Owns Recurrent Ventures?
Recurrent Ventures is backed and majority controlled by North Equity, the Miami-based venture equity firm that founded it in 2018 with the acquisition of The Drive. CEO and co-founder Andrew Perlman leads the company, which also counts Blackstone among its capital providers following a $300 million investment in 2022. Recurrent is privately held with no corporate parent.
United StatesOfficial Website
Who Owns Recurrent Ventures?
- Parent Company: North Equity LLC
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Recurrent Ventures | North Equity LLC | Subsidiary |
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
Recurrent Ventures on AmazonAdvertisement
History of Recurrent Ventures
- Founded: 2018
- Founders: North Equity, Andrew Perlman
The portfolio began in late 2018 when North Equity, a newly formed venture equity firm, acquired The Drive from Meredith as its first media purchase. The strategy was deliberate: buy established enthusiast publications with loyal audiences, install shared advertising and commerce technology, and grow revenue without destroying editorial identity.
North Equity expanded quickly, acquiring Popular Science, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and SAVEUR in the 2020 Bonnier US divestiture, plus Task & Purpose and Domino. In June 2021 it consolidated the operation under a new name, Recurrent Ventures, naming operating partner Lance Johnson CEO. The acquisition of Donut Media that November added the largest automotive channel on YouTube and a full video capability. A $300 million Blackstone investment in 2022 funded further deals including Dwell, BobVila.com, and Futurism.
The advertising downturn that followed exposed the leverage. Recurrent shut MEL Magazine in 2022, conducted layoffs including a November 2023 round that halved Popular Science's staff, and cycled through CEOs before co-founder Andrew Perlman took the role himself. The company then narrowed its portfolio deliberately, selling Dwell, Domino, Business of Home, and Popular Science to Ziff Davis in May 2026 to concentrate on automotive and military verticals, where The Drive, Donut, Task & Purpose, and the Military Influencer Conference anchor a tighter operation.
Advertisement
About North Equity LLC
Who owns North Equity?
North Equity is an independent, privately held firm controlled by its managing partners, Andrew Perlman and Matt Sechrest, who co-founded it in 2018. It has no corporate parent.
What does North Equity own?
Its principal holding is a majority stake in Recurrent Ventures, the digital media company behind The Drive, Donut Media, Task & Purpose, Field & Stream, and related brands. The firm has acquired more than 24 media brands through its platform.
Advertisement
Who founded North Equity?
Managing partners Andrew Perlman and Matt Sechrest co-founded North Equity in late 2018, combining Perlman's media and intellectual property background with Sechrest's software experience.
Is North Equity a private equity firm?
It describes itself as a venture equity firm, a hybrid of private equity acquisition and venture-style company building. It buys undervalued digital brands, rebuilds them on shared technology, and operates them through controlled holding companies.
Advertisement
Where is North Equity based?
North Equity is headquartered in Miami, Florida, in the Brickell district, where it relocated in 2021 from New York. It has maintained offices in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
- Founded: 2018
- Headquarters: Miami, Florida, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
Where Is Recurrent Ventures Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Miami, Florida, USA
Recurrent Ventures Categories & Tags
Recurrent Ventures Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +A committed founding sponsor in North Equity provides continuity rather than fund-deadline pressure
- +Co-founder Andrew Perlman serves as CEO, aligning ownership and operations
- +Shared technology stack improves monetization across all titles
- +The narrowed portfolio concentrates resources on verticals with proven economics
Considerations
- -Private equity backing means eventual exit pressure exists even without a public timeline
- -The Blackstone investment history demonstrates that leverage can force asset sales
- -Three CEOs in three years left organizational scars that still show in reporting
- -Digital advertising dependence exposes the whole portfolio to platform traffic shifts
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions About Recurrent Ventures
Sources & Further Reading
Advertisement
Competitors to Recurrent Ventures
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lbg Media | USA | 2011 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Bustle Digital Group | United States | 2013 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Bustle Digital Group | United States | 2012 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Bustle Digital Group | United States | 2002 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Bustle Digital Group | United States | 2015 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Dmg Media | United Kingdom | 2003 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Media EntertainmentBetches
Owned by LBG Media plc
Digital media brand for millennial and Gen Z women, founded in 2011, producing social content, podcasts, newsletters, books, and live events. Owned by LBG Media since 2023.
digital-mediawomens-mediapodcasts
Media EntertainmentBustle
Owned by BDG Media, Inc.
Flagship women's lifestyle site of BDG Media, founded by Bryan Goldberg in 2013 and read by millions monthly.
digital-mediawomens-medialifestyle
Media EntertainmentElite Daily
Owned by BDG Media, Inc.
Millennial lifestyle publication owned by BDG Media since 2017, previously sold by DMG Media.
digital-medialifestylemillennial
Media EntertainmentGawker
Owned by BDG Media, Inc.
Iconic gossip and media criticism site owned by BDG Media since 2018, currently dormant after two shutdowns.
digital-mediagossipmedia-criticism
Media EntertainmentInverse
Owned by BDG Media, Inc.
Science and technology news site owned by BDG Media since 2019, covering innovation for a millennial audience.
digital-mediascience-newstechnology
Media EntertainmentMailOnline
Owned by dmg media Limited
dmg media's free global news site at dailymail.co.uk, one of the world's most-visited English-language news domains.
news-websitedigital-mediauk-media
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Recurrent Ventures competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Advertisement
Independent Alternatives to Recurrent Ventures
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by North Equity LLC, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Media EntertainmentAxel Springer
Owned by Axel Springer SE
Berlin media company behind BILD, POLITICO, BUSINESS INSIDER, and Morning Brew, family-owned by Friede Springer and Mathias Döpfner since 2025.
publishingnews-mediagermany
Privately Owned
Axel Springer operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Media EntertainmentBarstool Sports
Owned by Barstool Sports, Inc.
Sports and entertainment media brand owned outright by founder Dave Portnoy, who repurchased the company from Penn Entertainment for $1 in 2023.
sports-mediapodcastsdigital-media
Privately Owned
Barstool Sports operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Media EntertainmentCandle Media
Owned by Candle Media
Los Angeles media company founded by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs with Blackstone backing, owner of Moonbug Entertainment.
media-companyprivate-equityblackstone
Privately Owned
Candle Media operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Media EntertainmentFandom
Owned by Fandom, Inc.
Wiki hosting and entertainment media platform for fan communities, home to hundreds of thousands of fan wikis plus GameSpot, Metacritic, TV Guide, and GameFAQs. Owned by TPG-backed Fandom, Inc.
wikifan-communitiesgaming
Privately Owned
Fandom operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Media EntertainmentForbes
Owned by Forbes Media LLC
American business media brand founded in 1917, majority-owned by Hong Kong investment group Integrated Whale Media since 2014, based in Jersey City, New Jersey.
business-newsmagazinemedia
Privately Owned
Forbes operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Media EntertainmentSimon & Schuster
Owned by Simon & Schuster LLC
Major American book publishing brand founded in 1924, owned by KKR since 2023 and a member of the Big Five trade publishers.
publishingbooksbig-five
Privately Owned
Simon & Schuster operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Jobs at North Equity LLC
Advertisement
Latest News About Recurrent Ventures
Related Articles About Recurrent Ventures
View more articles
Consumer Education
What Is an LBO and How Does It Affect Brand Ownership
Toys R Us was loaded with $5.3B in debt and went bankrupt. What is an LBO and how does it affect brand ownership? Discover how leveraged buyouts change the brands you buy. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffJul 28, 2026
LboLeveraged BuyoutPrivate Equity
Consumer Education
How Venture Capital Shapes Brand Ownership
Olipop went from $200M to $1.85B valuation in 3 years. Skims reached $5B. Discover how venture capital shapes brand ownership and why the brands you buy are increasingly VC-owned. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffJul 24, 2026
Venture CapitalVcBrand Ownership
Guide
The Complete Guide to Private Equity and Brand Ownership
Private equity firms like KKR, Blackstone, and Carlyle own hundreds of consumer brands. Our complete guide explains how PE acquisitions work, what changes after the buyout, and which brands they own. Explore our database.
Who Brands StaffMay 7, 2026
Private EquityKkrBlackstone
Advertisement
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Media & Entertainment category and related searches from other users.
Brandrecord-label
4AD
Influential British independent record label founded in 1979, known for a distinctive visual aesthetic and a roster spanning Cocteau Twins, Pixies, The National, and Grimes.
Brand in Media & Entertainment
independent-musicbritish-label
Brandtelevision
ABC
Major American broadcast television network with a rich history in news, entertainment, and sports programming, serving as a cornerstone of Disney Entertainment Television within The Walt Disney Company.
Brand in Media & Entertainment
broadcastingnetwork
Brandvideo-games
Activision Blizzard
Video-game publishing identity owned by Microsoft since its $68.7 billion acquisition closed in October 2023.
Brand in Media & Entertainment
game-publishingxbox