
Highmount Capital
New York private investment firm founded in 2023 by Jason Illian, Scott Flucke, and David Hawkins, known for its nine-figure investment in Dude Perfect.
Company Type
private
Founded
2023
Headquarters
New York, New York, USA
Primary Market
United States
About Highmount Capital
Who owns Highmount Capital?
Highmount Capital is owned by its founding partners: CEO Jason Illian, CIO David Hawkins, and COO Scott Flucke. It is an independent private partnership with no parent company or public listing.
What does Highmount Capital do?
It makes early growth-stage and middle-market investments in transformative technology, media, and growth-oriented companies, typically taking minority positions and providing capital plus operating expertise to founder-led businesses.
How much did Highmount invest in Dude Perfect?
Highmount committed a nine-figure amount to Dude Perfect in April 2024. Sources placed the commitment between $100 million and $300 million, structured as growth capital that preserved founder control.
When was Highmount Capital founded?
The firm was founded in January 2023 by Jason Illian, Scott Flucke, and David Hawkins, and is headquartered in New York City with a second office in Wichita, Kansas.
Is Highmount Capital related to Highland Capital?
No. Highmount Capital is unrelated to Highland Capital Management, the Dallas credit investment firm. The names were confused in some early coverage of the Dude Perfect investment.
History of Highmount Capital
Jason Illian announced the founding of Highmount Capital in January 2023 alongside partners Scott Flucke and David Hawkins, describing it as a venture and growth firm investing in entrepreneurs building transformative companies. Illian, who serves as CEO and general partner, has a background spanning private investment and faith-oriented media ventures; Hawkins took the chief investment officer role and Flucke the combined role of chief operating officer and general counsel.
The firm established offices at 46 Howard Street in New York's SoHo district and in Wichita, Kansas, positioning itself between coastal capital markets and the founder communities of the American interior. Ben Nissan joined the partnership shortly after founding.
Highmount's signature move came in April 2024, when it committed nine figures of growth capital to Dude Perfect, the Frisco, Texas sports entertainment company founded by five Texas A&M friends. Reports placed the commitment between $100 million and $300 million, structured to preserve founder control while funding management buildout and expansion into TV, games, live events, and consumer products. The investment led directly to the hiring of CEO Andrew Yaffe and the opening of Dude Perfect's DPHQ3 headquarters in February 2025.
Brands Owned by Highmount Capital
Highmount Capital owns 1 brand in our database. Explore the ownership tree below — click categories to expand and see individual brands.
Highmount Capital
private · Founded 2023 · New York, New York, USA
1
brands
Highmount Capital Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Partner ownership keeps all investment authority with the three founders
- +Minority-positioning wins deals where founders refuse control sales
- +Concentrated approach allows deep involvement in each portfolio company
- +Combined partner experience exceeds 50 years of investing and operating
Considerations
- -Short operating history means returns and strategy are unproven
- -Concentration risk is real with a portfolio measured in single digits
- -No disclosed fund structure limits outside visibility into capital base
- -Small team constrains the number of companies it can support simultaneously
Frequently Asked Questions About Highmount Capital
Who owns Highmount Capital?
Highmount Capital is owned by its founding partners: CEO Jason Illian, CIO David Hawkins, and COO Scott Flucke. It is an independent private partnership with no parent company or public listing.
What does Highmount Capital do?
It makes early growth-stage and middle-market investments in transformative technology, media, and growth-oriented companies, typically taking minority positions and providing capital plus operating expertise to founder-led businesses.
How much did Highmount invest in Dude Perfect?
Highmount committed a nine-figure amount to Dude Perfect in April 2024. Sources placed the commitment between $100 million and $300 million, structured as growth capital that preserved founder control.
When was Highmount Capital founded?
The firm was founded in January 2023 by Jason Illian, Scott Flucke, and David Hawkins, and is headquartered in New York City with a second office in Wichita, Kansas.
Is Highmount Capital related to Highland Capital?
No. Highmount Capital is unrelated to Highland Capital Management, the Dallas credit investment firm. The names were confused in some early coverage of the Dude Perfect investment.





