Matthew Helderman is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of BondIt Media Capital and Buffalo 8, a pair of companies that have made a significant impact in the film and television industry.
Helderman's entrepreneurial journey began when he founded Buffalo 8 in 2010, during his undergraduate studies at Lake Forest College. Since then, the company has premiered projects at some of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, including Sundance, SXSW, and Berlin. Buffalo 8 has also produced a number of notable films, including the Netflix original film "Rodney King" directed by Spike Lee and the global Netflix hit "Conversations With a Killer: Jeffrey Dahmer" directed by Emmy-winning director Joe Berlinger.
In 2013, Helderman co-founded BondIt Media Capital, which has since deployed over $250 million of capital in over 400 film, television, and media opportunities. BondIt has also raised $30 million of equity and debt for a partial sale to public traded Accord Financial (TSX: ACD) and expanded its credit facility to $75 million in 2020 with Texas-based hedge fund Revere Capital.
BondIt's project slate is impressive, featuring films such as the Oscar-nominated "Loving Vincent," the Roland Emmerich-directed war epic "Midway," and the Indie Spirit-winning "The Peanut Butter Falcon." The company has also worked with a wide range of high-profile talent, including Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Nicolas Cage, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Liam Neeson, Mel Gibson, Kevin James, Morgan Freeman, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Smith, and Samuel L. Jackson, resulting in over $500 million of worldwide box office performances.
In addition to his work in film and television, Helderman has also co-managed the acquisition of 30-year-old entertainment payroll firm ABS Payroll in 2017. Today, he serves as an Executive Director, Partner, and Board Member of the company, which was sold to the largest PEO provider in the United States, Vensure Employer Services.
Helderman graduated from Lake Forest College with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and has been a featured TED speaker, profiled in the New York Times, and is a member of YPO.
