Gift AdahMatthew Pierce Hanson is a major name in the business world in 2026. He is a man who knows how to take a small idea and turn it into a multi-million-dollar success. Most people know him as the “Chief Growth Officer” of Black Buffalo Inc., a company that is changing the way people think about tobacco. But before he was a business owner, he was one of the top financial experts in the world. This report looks at his “Power Data”, his education, his path to wealth, and the massive growth of his company.
Quick Categorization
| Category | Details |
| Primary Job | Chief Growth Officer & Board Member at Black Buffalo Inc. |
| Business Category | Entrepreneur & Executive (Nicotine Alternatives) |
| Expertise | Raising money (Capital Formation) and Growing Brands |
| Education | AB in Economics with Honors from University of Chicago |
| 2026 Status | High-Power Executive (Leader of a 4-time Inc. 5000 company) |
1. The Foundation: A High-Honor Education
Matthew’s success didn’t happen by accident. He started with a very strong education. He attended the University of Chicago, which is famous for being one of the hardest schools for economics in the world. In 2001, he graduated with an AB in Economics with Honors.
Having an honors degree from this school gave him the “Professional Power” to enter the world’s biggest banks. Later, in 2007, he earned his CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) certification. This is a very difficult test to pass, and it proved to everyone that he was a master of managing and growing money.
2. The Career Path: Learning from the Best
Before he joined Black Buffalo, Matthew spent nearly 20 years working for the most powerful companies in finance. He followed a “recipe” for success by working his way up:
- Goldman Sachs: He started his career in 2001 as a Financial Analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co., one of the most famous banks in history.
- Bank of America: He then moved to Bank of America Securities, where he worked on big deals for global corporations.
- ThinkEquity LLC: Matthew became the Head of Corporate Finance and a Vice President here. This is where he really learned how to help medium-sized companies get the money they need to grow into giant companies.
- GSV and Runway Growth Capital: He served as a Partner at these firms, where he decided which new companies were worth millions of dollars in investments.
All of these jobs gave him the “Power Data” he needed to eventually run his own company. He learned exactly how to raise money and how to talk to the world’s richest investors.
3. The Black Buffalo Story: A $38 Million Success
In 2019, Matthew joined Black Buffalo Inc. as the Chief Growth Officer. This was a major move. The company was founded in 2015 with a goal to create a “tobacco-free” alternative to chewing tobacco.
What Makes the Product Powerful?
Traditional chewing tobacco is very popular, but it uses tobacco leaves. Black Buffalo spent over 25,000 hours in research and development to make a product that feels and tastes exactly like the real thing but uses “pharmaceutical-grade” nicotine instead of tobacco leaves.
Power Data: Company Growth
Under Matthew’s leadership, Black Buffalo has become a financial giant:
- Funding Raised: The company has raised a total of $38 million from investors.
- The $30 Million Deal: In 2022, Matthew helped secure a massive $30 million investment from The Pritzker Organization. The Pritzkers are one of the wealthiest families in America (they own Hyatt Hotels), and their support gave Black Buffalo instant power in the market.
- 10x Revenue: Since 2020, the company’s revenue has grown by 10 times what it was before.
- Inc. 5000: The company has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for four years in a row, including in 2025.
4. “The Herd”: Brand Loyalty Data
A huge part of Matthew’s strategy is building a “brand” that people love. Black Buffalo calls its fans “The Herd”.
The “Power Data” on these customers is incredible:
- Travel Distance: On average, a member of “The Herd” will drive nearly 13 miles just to find a store that sells Black Buffalo. For most things like soda or snacks, people won’t drive more than a mile or two. This shows that Matthew has created a product that people cannot live without.
- Repeat Customers: Because of the company’s digital loyalty program, 95% of members buy the product again and again. This is one of the highest “repeat purchase” rates in the entire industry.
5. Personal Life: A New York Power Couple
Matthew Pierce Hanson has a high-profile personal life that adds to his influence. He is married to Rebecca Jarvis, the Chief Business and Technology Correspondent for ABC News.
They met when they were both students at the University of Chicago and have been a “power couple” ever since. They live in New York City and have two children: a daughter named Isabel and a son named Leo. Matthew often appears at high-level business events, such as the Goldman Sachs “Builders and Innovators Summit,” where he represents Black Buffalo to the world’s elite.
6. The 2026 Outlook: A $67 Billion Future
As of March 2026, Matthew Pierce Hanson is sitting at the top of a booming industry. Experts say that by 2035, the market for nicotine alternatives will be worth $67 billion.
Traditional cigarettes are losing money, but “smoke-free” products like the ones Matthew sells are growing by 29% every single year. His role in 2026 is to make sure Black Buffalo is available in every convenience store in America. He is also working on new technologies to make the products even better for adult consumers who want to quit traditional tobacco.
Conclusion: The Master of Growth
Matthew Pierce Hanson has proven that he is more than just a banker. He is a “Master of Growth” who used his high-level training at Goldman Sachs and the University of Chicago to build a nicotine empire. With $38 million in funding and a customer base that is more loyal than almost any other brand, Matthew and Black Buffalo are set to dominate the market for years to come. Whether he is raising millions from the Pritzker family or expanding into thousands of new stores, Matthew Pierce Hanson is one of the most important business leaders to watch in 2026.
Sources
- Matthew Hanson, CFA – Chief Growth Officer at Black Buffalo – The Org
https://theorg.com/org/black-buffalo/matthew-hanson - Black Buffalo Announces 2025 Herd Preferred Award Winners – PR Newswire
https://www.prnewswire.com/ - Meet Rebecca Jarvis’ Husband Matthew Hanson – Closer Weekly
https://www.closerweekly.com/ - Matthew Hanson Investment Portfolio – PitchBook
https://pitchbook.com/ - Mark Hanson Industry Coverage – Tobacco Reporter
https://tobaccoreporter.com/tag/mark-hanson/ - Black Buffalo 2026 Company Profile: Valuation, Funding & Investors – PitchBook
https://pitchbook.com/ - Black Buffalo Announces 2025 Herd Preferred Award Winners – Morningstar
https://www.morningstar.com/ - Matt Hanson – Staff Advisors – University of California
https://staffadvisors.universityofcalifornia.edu/ - Matthew Hanson – Bain Capital Private Equity
https://www.baincapitalprivateequity.com/ - Black Buffalo Funding Rounds & Investors – Tracxn
https://tracxn.com/ - Black Buffalo at the 2025 NACS Show – Convenience.org
https://www.convenience.org/
Gift Adah