Curt Black
Founder and Managing Principal
I bring 10 years of experience in revenue growth to Snipe Island Capital with expertise across sales and business development, digital and traditional marketing, channel sales, partnerships, product management, and general management.
I was most recently Chief Revenue Officer at Aktify, a conversational AI platform that was focused on managing fully automated conversations (SMS, webchat, and dialer integrations) with prospective customers. Our largest customers were in the healthcare space where Aktify managed prospective patient engagements to schedule appointments. In this role I led teams across business development, sales, marketing, channel partnerships, and revenue operations to grow annual recurring revenue while reducing CAC. We did this through focusing on a more precise ideal customer profile and increasing revenue retention from our best customers.
I started my career at Google where I learned to think big, work hard, and do the small things well. I spent 8 years there leading sales, growth marketing, and partnerships teams for some of the largest industries:
Growing Small Businesses: In my first role at Google I led growth marketing strategy to SMBs and technology startups after a fundraising round to develop strategies to lower customer acquisition cost. I helped Series A startups meet their growth goals while keeping their acquisition costs profitable.
Transforming Voter Contact in U.S. Elections: I led Google’s advertising and business strategy to political campaigns in U.S. Elections. I led partnerships with the most competitive political campaigns and committees during the 2016 cycle, and managed the U.S. Elections team for the 2018 election cycle as our vertical’s Head of Industry. Our team’s work building growth and brand marketing strategies using 1P data and Machine Learning changed how political campaigns are funded, how voters are reached online, and how elections are won. These strategies are now relevant to many businesses focused on growth marketing and are now being adopted by businesses of all sizes with a focus on sustainable customer acquisition.
Leading Streaming Partnerships in Media and Entertainment: I led Google’s relationships with top entertainment partners, leading a team to close and then operate some of the company’s largest annual Ads partnerships with streaming services. The team I led developed launch strategies for Quibi and Peacock, leveraging Google’s Cloud and Ads stack to acquire and retain new customers.
Family
I am blessed to have the support of my wife, Dr. Elaine Martin. Elaine is an Otolaryngology resident at UC Irvine where she will finish residency in 2024. Elaine and I live in Newport Beach, California. We both come from families of hard working doctors and entrepreneurs (often both) and have a deep respect for managing and operating small businesses.
Civic Engagement
Since 2014, I’ve been involved on political campaigns and in local civic engagement. During the 2022 election cycle I joined the leadership team of a challenger mayoral campaign in Los Angeles, Rick Caruso for Mayor, where I led digital, data, and field strategy. I currently serve on two local government boards in the City of Newport Beach. I believe that both business and local government are both powerful avenues to creating a better society and am honored to play a small role in our City.
Education
I attended the University of Southern California where I graduated with degrees in International Relations and Business Administration. I was selected for The Order of the Torch, an award designating outstanding performance in academics and leadership in the community.
The Snipe Island Team
Snipe Island brings a team of industry leading advisors and partners. All of the core team have led businesses as CEOs, entrepreneurs, operators, or investors with significant experience. Their involvement means that Snipe Island has the capital and flexibility to close on a deal within our target parameters, and that the company will receive expert guidance from board members and mentors.
TD Investment Company
Rick Taketa
Kent Weaver
The Story of Snipe Island
Snipe Island was a small tideland sandbar in the rugged bay that is today known as Newport Harbor. In 1908, William Collins, an entrepreneur with a vision, began dredging a channel on the north side of the bay, depositing sand on the Snipe Island mudflat. The island soon grew and became Balboa Island. Collins then built on the new island Balboa Island, selling lots for as little as $25 and continuing to dredge the harbor. His ambitious vision transformed Snipe Island into a flourishing community, and turned a rugged tideland into a prospering harbor that’s now the heart of Newport Beach.