Courtney Reum

Courtney Reum grew up in a rural suburb of Chicago called Wayne, Illinois, where he was raised by his mother, Sherry, and his father Robert Reum. The former CEO of Amsted Industries, Robert was also a member of the Yale Bulldogs basketball team during its infamous 1962 season that ended at the final game of that years NCAA championships.[10][11] Reum studied economics and philosophy and graduated with distinction from Columbia University, where he was a member of the Varsity Men's Soccer Team.[12] He is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.[13]

He has been featured on the Forbes “30 Under 30” list, the Inc “500 fastest growing private companies in America,” Richard Branson's best-selling book “Screw Business as Usual”, and most recently the Goldman Sachs Builders + Innovators 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.[14][15][16][17][18][19] He is a columnist for Inc Magazine, and an occasional media personality appearing on the television series, Hatched which appears on a variety of networks including FOX and CBS.[20] Reum was added to the board of directors of Los Angeles Opera in September 2015. He also serves as commissioner of the Los Angeles Convention Center & Tourism Authority.[13][5]

In May 2007, Reum launched his first company called VEEV Spirits with a vodka brand that was both the first liquor made with acai and the first to be created in a sustainable facility.[21][22][23][24][25] The product, which was an açaí-infused wheat based grain alcohol liquor, initially sold in high end bars, nightclubs and high-profile celebrity events out of the back of his car before becoming a national success with a product portfolio that eventually including the first line of certified organic RTD cocktails called VitaFrute.[26][27] VeeV Spirits products were available in major retail chains, specialty shops, bodegas and independent liquor and retail stores, as well as bars, nightclubs, public and private event spaces, hospitality suites and Virgin America airlines. Veev was featured on CNBC's "How I Made My Millions" in August 2011.[28]

Before selling the brand in 2016. the Reum's VEEV Spirits was honored as an Inc 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America, named one of Beverage Information's Rising Stars and recipient of the Technomic Fast 50 Award.[29]

Courtney Reum launched the investment and brand development firm M13 with his partner/brother Carter Reum in 2016 after the sale of VeeV Spirits to alcohol distributor Luxco out of St Louis.[30][1][31][32] The investment firm focused on start-up consumer product companies whose intention and brand messaging appeal to the trends that interest Millennials in health, environmental concerns and achievements. In April 2016 it was reported that M13 would be syndicating $100 million in investments into dozens of start up companies .[33]

The name M13 comes from M13 "Messier 13"[34] the brightest cluster of stars in the galaxy whereby the collection of stars shines brighter than the sum of its individual parts.