Chris Protasewich

Chris is Founder and Managing Partner at Cutting Horse, where he leads new investments and works closely with partner brands including BetterWild, Feel Goods, and SuperTeeth.

Chris brings a blend of investor and operator experience, with a track record of helping founders build category-defining businesses. He is especially energized by forming close partnerships with entrepreneurs and navigating pivotal stages of growth.

Prior to founding Cutting Horse, Chris was an investor at Highland Capital Partners, where he backed Michael Wystrach at Freshly. He later joined Freshly’s leadership team and helped guide the company through rapid scale and its acquisition by Nestlé. Following the acquisition, Chris partnered again with Michael to launch Petfolk.

Earlier in his career, Chris was an investor at North Bridge Growth Equity (now Guidepost) and began his career at UBS. While earning his MBA, he co-founded Lynx Fitness Club, a luxury fitness and golf club in Boston.

Chris grew up in Duxbury, Massachusetts and has been building businesses for as long as he can remember, from mowing lawns and shoveling snow to crafting and selling wallets made from sailcloth. He has always been drawn to the excitement and creativity of the entrepreneurial journey.

Chris holds an MBA from Wharton and a B.S. from Boston College, where he was a member of the National Champion Varsity Sailing Team. He lives in Boston with his wife Kelly and their two children.