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 and partnerships, and general management.

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, marketing, and partnerships teams for some of the largest industries:

  • Growing Small Businesses: I started my career at Google working with SMBs and technology startups after a fundraising round to develop and deploy growth strategies to lower customer acquisition cost.

  • 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 GOP U.S. Elections team for the 2018 election cycle as interim Head of Industry. Our team’s work progressing the role of digital marketing throughout this era changed how political campaigns are funded, how voters are reached online, and how elections are won.

  • Leading Streaming Partnerships in Media and Entertainment: I led Google’s relationships with top entertainment partners, leading teams to close and then operate some of the company’s largest annual deals. We helped build launch strategies for some of the top streaming entrants during this era.

I then joined Aktify, a SaaS startup, as Chief Revenue Officer. Our teams grew annual recurring revenue through focusing on a more precise ideal customer profile, and on increasing revenue retention from our best customers. I managed teams across business development, sales, marketing, channel partnerships, and revenue operations.

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 helped drive 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.