Building a Fund's Voice from Nothing
When Freedom Trail Capital engaged Ludington Media in March 2024, they had a world-class story and little media presence. What followed was a two-year run of national coverage across Fortune, Forbes, TechCrunch, and more — and the work continues.
A differentiated fund with no public narrative
Freedom Trail Capital was founded in 2023 by Samyr Laine — Harvard graduate, Olympian, former operator at Jay-Z's Roc Nation and Will Smith's Westbrook — and co-founder Ayanna Alexander-Laine, also an Olympian. Their portfolio included brands backed by Issa Rae, Kaley Cuoco, Emma Watson, and Ciara. The thesis was distinctive. The media profile was not.
Pre-Engagement Baseline (before March 2024)
Prior to Ludington Media, coverage consisted of a single niche feature in Rolling Out (October 2023) and a Consumer VC podcast episode (February 2024). Zero presence in national business or tech media. No thought leadership narrative. No established relationships with national press.
Our Approach
Profile & Narrative
We proactively pitched Samyr's singular story to national business and tech media. Fortune's exclusive profile was the result.
Thought Leadership
Consistent expert placement across Forbes, Carta, Chief Executive, C-Suite Quarterly, and Authority Magazine — building Samyr as a go-to voice on celebrity brands and consumer VC.
Recognition Pipeline
Identified and managed award submissions resulting in three national recognition wins across two consecutive years.
Visibility that moved the needle
Sustained media presence translated into meaningful momentum at both the fund and portfolio level.
Fund Visibility & LP Positioning
Coverage anchored by Fortune, TechCrunch, and Forbes established Freedom Trail's credibility with the LP community and positioned Samyr as a credible voice in capital markets and consumer investing at a critical stage of the fund's development.
Ecosystem Recognition & Deal Flow
Freedom Trail was invited to join the Plug In Ventures Founder & Investor Roundtable alongside Vamos Ventures and Kapor Capital — a direct signal of the fund's growing standing. Portfolio milestones including Ruka Hair's Sephora partnership and Sienna Naturals' continued momentum gained further visibility through coordinated media support.
The placements that defined the narrative
The most impactful placements of the engagement — each a direct result of proactive media relations.
All confirmed placements
| Show | Episode | Reach |
|---|---|---|
| Founder's StoryFeb 23, 2026 | "What Jay-Z, Will Smith, and the Olympics Taught Him About Winning in Business | Ep 312"Top 1% of all podcasts globally. Podcast | 40K+ views 1M+ YouTube subscribers |
| Brands for a Better WorldJul 12, 2024 | "Investing in Purpose: Samyr Laine on Scaling Mission-Driven Celebrity Brands"Podcast | CPG & brand founder audience |
| Making Billions2024–2025 | The Private Equity Podcast with Ryan Miller — Freedom Trail Capital episodePodcast | Private equity investor audience |
| Ignite Ventures2024–2025 | Ignite Ventures Podcast — Freedom Trail Capital episodePodcast | VC & founder audience |
Los Angeles Business Journal
2025 Leader of Influence: Banking & Finance
August 2025 · View announcement
Wealth & Finance International
Most Innovative Equity Investments Firm — North America, 2024 PE & VC Awards
December 2024 · View announcement
Blueprint Capital Advisors
2026 Power100 Asset Managers — Samyr Laine named among leading VC investors shaping the ecosystem
2026
Inc. Magazine (Portfolio)
2026 Female Founders 500 — Issa Rae, Hannah Diop (Sienna Naturals) & Amrita Saigal (Kudos)
2026 · Amplified across Freedom Trail channels