Chris Rupp

Chris Rupp is a Co-Founder and Managing Director for Capital XIX, LLC, which manages Fund I, a committed capital fund investing in NC-based or located high-growth hospitality concepts. He is also the owner of Red Shark Digital (Red Shark), one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in the country. Chris has over 15 years of business and marketing experience, has proven his success in developing brands and accelerating growth for ambitious companies of all sizes. Starting his marketing career in yellow page sales, he eventually went on to create and build Red Shark – a full service digital marking agency. Chris is an entrepreneur at heart and is also a partner in several restaurants and other ventures. His extensive knowledge of and expertise in the hospitality industry is what led him to become the CEO of NRG Partners, where he directly leads a team of hospitality veterans in creating and operating multiple different restaurant brands. In addition to his accomplishments in business, Chris has also been recognized for his leadership and dedication. In 2018, he was honored as a 40 under 40 Honoree from East Carolina University, and his company, Red Shark, has appeared twice on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. Chris earned his B.S. degree in Economics at East Carolina University. Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and three young children, living the coastal lifestyle in Wilmington, NC.