Ryan Smith
Overview
Ryan Smith is an American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the co-founder and executive chairman of Qualtrics, a leading experience management company. Founded in 2002, Qualtrics offers a cloud-based platform that helps organizations manage customer, employee, product, and brand experiences. Under Smith's leadership, the company has grown to serve over 18,000 customers globally, including more than 85% of the Fortune 100. In addition to his role at Qualtrics, Smith has expanded his investment portfolio into the sports and entertainment sectors. In October 2020, he acquired a majority stake in the NBA's Utah Jazz for approximately $1.66 billion, marking a significant venture into professional sports ownership. This acquisition included the team, Vivint Arena, and the NBA G League's Salt Lake City Stars. Further diversifying his investments, Smith co-founded the Halo Experience Company (HXCO) in April 2025, a $1 billion venture capital fund focused on growth-stage technology companies within the 'experience economy,' encompassing areas like sports and entertainment. HXCO aims to invest in innovations that enhance consumer interactions in these domains.
Investment Focus
- Growth-stage technology companies in the experience economy
Portfolio Companies
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Frequently asked questions about Ryan Smith
What sectors does Ryan Smith invest in?
Ryan Smith invests in Technology, Entertainment and Sports, and is based in Tulsa, United States. Ryan Smith is listed as a private equity in the ConnectSafely investor database.
What stage does Ryan Smith invest at?
Ryan Smith backs companies at Growth and Late Stage, writing cheques of 100M - 1B.
Which regions does Ryan Smith invest in?
Ryan Smith invests across United States.
What companies has Ryan Smith invested in?
Ryan Smith's portfolio includes Qualtrics, Utah Jazz, Utah Mammoth and HXCO.
How do I contact Ryan Smith?
Ryan Smith's contact details — including LinkedIn — are listed in the ConnectSafely investor database, along with its website and the LinkedIn profiles of the team.
Last updated · Source: ConnectSafely investor database
