OUR TEAM
KURT KNAPTON
Investor and Strategic Advisor
Kurt is an innovative business leader and “impact investor” passionate about his calling to help equip and encourage entrepreneurs to make a positive difference in the world.
Kurt is the former CEO of Research Now. During his twelve years there, Kurt helped start-up and scale the world’s leading digital data-collection company serving the market research industry. Today, the company (rebranded Dynata) executes over 75,000 projects a year and generates over half-a-billion dollars of annual revenue.
Early in his career Kurt spent a decade as a management consultant working for Booz Allen Hamilton and Accenture specializing in business strategy and improvement for Fortune 500 clients.
Kurt earned his MBA from Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck Graduate School of Business and was an Honors Program graduate at Baylor University where he holds a BBA in Management.
JOHN ROTHWELL
Collaborating Independent Co-Investor and Advisor
John Rothwell is a digital and growth company advisor and a co-investor in a number of Realm Resources portfolio companies. With several decades of experience making business investments, John is a trusted advisor to Realm Resources during its sourcing, evaluation, and due-diligence processes.
During his career John has served as a board member, investor and/or advisor to early stage companies in a variety of industries.
In addition to working as a management consultant for seven years, John has served as President and COO of two successful growth companies: Research Now and Ignite Technologies (co-founding the former). John earned a BBA in Finance and Economics from Baylor University and a Graduate Honours Degree in Finance and Economics from Victoria University of Wellington.
Kurt and John have worked together across three decades and three different companies, and share the same passion for growing great companies and making a difference.
AUSTIN MACLEAN
Portfolio Analyst
Austin is a passionate and multi-talented professional with a desire to steward resources for greater impact. As a Certified Public Accountant he uses his outstanding analytical skills to help Realm Resources source, evaluate, and monitor new and ongoing investment opportunities.
Austin resides in Orange County, CA where he currently works as a Product Manager for one of Realm's portfolio companies, FreightPOP. www.freightpop.com
Austin is an alum of Baylor University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BBA in Business Fellows, Finance, Accounting, and Supply Chain Management with a minor in Religion. Austin earned his CPA certification in 2020.
During his time at Baylor he was an active member of the Baylor Angel Network where he worked on a number of deals with both Kurt and John.
ROBBIE CROSIER
Outside General Legal Counsel
Robbie is the managing attorney of the Crosier Law Firm—a Dallas-based corporate law firm focused on representing startups and early-stage companies.
At Realm Resources, Robbie helps the team remain compliant, manage risks, and close transactions as its general counsel.
Robbie has served as corporate counsel to numerous investment funds, startups, and nonprofits. He has also structured university-wide NIL deals, litigated against corporations and municipal bodies throughout the State of Texas, and facilitated high-value closings on behalf of his clients.
Robbie graduated an Honors Scholar with Distinction from Baylor University’s University Scholars Program. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University School of Law, where his passion for partnering with growing companies and startups was kindled in the Texas A&M Legal Clinic for Entrepreneurship and Community Development.