Kai Furbeck is a Principal at 1RT, bringing over 10 years of experience in corporate strategy and business development, marketing, finance, and operations.

Previously, Kai was Director of Strategy and Development at Lindblad Expeditions, where he was responsible for M&A execution, diligence, financial analysis, deal structure and negotiations for potential acquisitions, as well as corporate strategic and financial planning, organizational design, and change management.

Kai spent several years as Director of Strategy and Analytics at Sotheby’s, working under current 1RT Partner, Tad Smith, where he led strategy for the company’s digital infrastructure and marketing, including the introduction and expansion of Sotheby’s online auctions platform, a program which has since grown to include some of the largest institutional sales of fine art digital assets and collectibles.

Kai has had a longstanding interest in digital assets, stemming from the first public BTC transaction in 2010. His interest grew at Dorm Room Fund, an early-stage venture capital firm, where Kai acted as an investment partner and led the firm’s platform and operations team. During this time, Kai became passionate about investing in the ecosystem and working with startups and founders, and has since led numerous private investments and syndicates as well as served as an advisor for various startups and NPOs.

At 1RT, Kai will be responsible for leading our investment team’s analysis and strategy regarding all operational aspects of existing and new portfolio companies including growth, governance, and organization.

Kai is a graduate of Brown University, holding a Bachelor of Arts in History, and received his MBA from NYU’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.