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Matthew HeldermanCEO and co-founder
Matthew Helderman founded Buffalo 8 in 2010, while an undergrad student. Buffalo 8 has since premiered projects at Sundance, SXSW, and Berlin, as well as produced the Netflix original film “Rodney King” directed by Spike Lee and the Joe Berlinger directed Netflix global hit “The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes”. In 2013, he co-founded BondIt Media Capital and has led BondIt in the deployment of over $375M of capital in over 400+ film, television, and media opportunities, while raising $30M of equity and debt for a partial sale to Accord Financial (TSX: ACD) in addition to expanding the company’s credit facility to $75M in 2020. Helderman also co-managed the acquisition of 30-year-old entertainment payroll firm, ABS Payroll, in 2017 and today serves as an Executive Director, Partner, and Board Member after having overseen the sale of the business to Vensure Employer Services.
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Luke TaylorCOO and co-founder
Luke is the co-founder and COO of both Buffalo 8 and BondIt Media Capital. Taylor oversees the financing operations and client management of both businesses on a daily basis. Taylor graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Music Industry and Business.
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Don McGrealCFO
Donald is the CFO of BondIt Media Capital. McGreal previously held senior finance positions at several media, entertainment, and technology companies including Hulu and Awesomeness. He led finance and treasury teams through significant business expansion as well as multiple corporate transactions and capital raises. McGreal began his career in investment banking with Wells Fargo Securities. He graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Kelley School of Business.
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Grady CraigSVP, Business DevelopmentAfter a decade of running the company that put him through school, Grady sold his business to join BondIt Media Capital as one of its early employees. He’s since supported $250M+ of aggregate investment into over 250 film, television, and live music touring projects, scaled Buffalo 8’s production services revenue by sevenfold, and oversees interoperations across BondIt’s Family of Companies, including 35-year-old sister company ABS Payroll. Grady specializes in maximizing high-yield opportunities and leveraging key media partnerships to accelerate growth, while his Executive Producing slate contains single-picture, multi-picture, and episodic vehicles for A-list talent. Grady has spoken at events around the world, from the American Film Market to the Cannes Film Festival, and holds dual degrees in Economics and Film Studies, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, from Boston College.
BondIt and Buffalo 8 have financed and produced countless major film productions starring Robert DeNiro, Sylvester Stallone, Anna Kendrick, Martin Lawrence, Mel Gibson, Megan Fox, Kevin James, Bruce Willis, Vince Vaughn, and many more.
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Tim HealyMarketing, Services, and Communication Coordinator
Tim assists with overseeing and designing marketing content for BondIt and its family of companies. Additionally, he helps potential clients identify the best BondIt and Buffalo 8 services for their projects, and he manages the Company Internship Program each semester. Tim holds a degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Philosophy, from Boston College.
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Julie SiragusaPortfolio Servicer
Julie spent several years in real estate and lending leveraging her expertise in e-commerce and deal-making as an M&A Advisor with The FBA Broker/Summit Capital. Building upon her extensive experience in real estate, lending, and M&A, as well as a lifelong love of film and entertainment, Julie applies her expertise to help oversee the BondIt Media Capital loan portfolio as a Portfolio Servicer. In this role, she ensures optimal performance, communication, and effective risk management. Additionally, she supports the BondIt family of companies across business development at Buffalo 8 Post-Production, further utilizing her skills in deal-making and relationship building to help drive growth and success for the company.
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Max MurphyFinancial Analyst
Max is a Financial Analyst at BondIt, where he plays a crucial role on the deal team. He excels in managing all aspects of deal processes, from origination to closing and beyond. With a strong specialization in financial modeling, risk analysis, underwriting, and automation, Max brings a comprehensive skill set to the team. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Penn State University.
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Peter O’DonnellFinancial Analyst
Peter joined in 2024 and is a financial analyst for BondIt Media Capital. He assists the deal team by compiling underwriting info, creating models, and prepping legal documents throughout the negotiation process. He also provides back-end financial support to ensure the company’s financials are up-to-date and accurate. Peter graduated in 2024 from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.
WHAT WE’VE DONE
Transactions
450+
Since Inception
Invested
$400M+
Since Inception
Aggregate Media Spend
$1.5B+
Since Inception
worldwide box office revenues
$1B+
Since Inception
WHAT WE OFFER
Film Union Deposits
Minimum Guarantees
Gap Loans
Bridge Loans
Sales Receivables
Tax Credit Loans
Working Capital
THE TEAM
THE BOARD
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Brad ShermanCo-founder and CEO of Aver Media LLP
Brad was the co-founder and CEO of Aver Media LLP, a private debt financier specializing in film and television production and corporate financing. Brad managed the sale of Aver Media to Bank of Montreal in 2013, where he then served as the executive head of Media lending before retiring in 2019. Today Brad serves on a number of media, entertainment, and financing related Boards.
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Simon HitzigPresident and CEO of Accord Financial
Simon brings fifteen years of financing services experience to Accord and BondIt. Prior to joining the company in 2011, Simon held executive positions in marketing, product development, and distribution strategy at the investment firm Goodman & Company Ltd.
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Irene EddySVP
Irene is a member of the executive leadership team at Accord, focusing on all aspects of capital markets, including sourcing, closing and managing financing relationships. She is responsible for planning and securing Accord’s financing requirements by diversifying its sources of capital.
Irene’s most recent experience was as Senior Vice President at DBRS, and prior to that at GE Capital. She has her law degree from Fordham University and is a certified public accountant. -
Matthew HeldermanCEO and co-founder
Matthew Helderman founded Buffalo 8 in 2010, while an undergrad student. Buffalo 8 has since premiered projects at Sundance, SXSW, and Berlin, as well as produced the Netflix original film “Rodney King” directed by Spike Lee and the Joe Berlinger directed Netflix global hit “The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes”. In 2013, he co-founded BondIt Media Capital and has led BondIt in the deployment of over $375M of capital in over 400+ film, television, and media opportunities, while raising $30M of equity and debt for a partial sale to Accord Financial (TSX: ACD) in addition to expanding the company’s credit facility to $75M in 2020. Helderman also co-managed the acquisition of 30-year-old entertainment payroll firm, ABS Payroll, in 2017 and today serves as an Executive Director, Partner, and Board Member after having overseen the sale of the business to Vensure Employer Services.
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Luke TaylorCOO and co-founder
Luke is the co-founder and COO of both Buffalo 8 and BondIt Media Capital. Taylor oversees the financing operations and client management of both businesses on a daily basis. Taylor graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Music Industry and Business.
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Nick SpicerCeo & Co-founder XYZ Films
Nick started XYZ Films in 2008 with partners Nate Bolotin and Aram Tertzakian. Today Nick leads the team as an industry recognized top producer, sales company, and financier for globally minded genre content.
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Jeff SackmanCo-Founder of Quiver Distribution
Jeff was the founding President of Lionsgate and lead the film division as he Produced or Executive Produced over 75 films, including AMERICAN PSYCHO, BUFFALO 66, GRAND SEDUCTION, PYEWACKET, WRECKED, MURDER BALL, BECKY and CHICK FIGHT.
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Irene RomeroFormer Manager and Banker
Irene is a veteran banker with over 40 years experience servicing the financial and banking needs of the entertainment industry. She has been instrumental in the financing of over 200 films, numerous successful Television series, and high profile live Las Vegas shows.
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Mick LuckhurstFormer CEO American Hole ‘N One
Mick was a former placekicker for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons for nearly a decade and an on-air TV personality. Mick brings more than 20 years of entrepreneurial, insurance, and marketing experience to the BondIt Advisory Board. Mick served as CEO for the sports and media insurance firm American Hole ’n One from 1994 to 2017.
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Jeremy HitzigManaging Director Duero River Ventures
Mr. Hitzig began as a principal at Capital Risk Strategies where he focused on emerging risk transfer tools & other capital markets & insurance products. He later joined Distinguished LLC before being named CEO in 2006, serving until the end of 2018.