Our story

From our roots as an energy company to the multi-strategy investment firm we are today, one thing has always stayed the same: We embrace the unconventional.

Echo's evolution

Our story reflects Oklahoma’s transition from a predominant focus on oil and gas to economic diversification through advancement of new industries. Although Oklahoma was built on the petrodollar, we know it can’t be sustained on it.
The beginning

2010

Christian Kanady founds Echo and begins acquiring oil and gas non-operated working interests.

Our transition

2015

Echo transitions to oil and gas mineral rights and begins acquiring in Oklahoma’s SCOOP.
The Acquisition

2015 - 2020

Echo continues acquiring mineral rights in Texas and Oklahoma, deploying more than $600 million.
The Zig

2018

Echo’s founder and CEO, Christian Kanady, purchases The Ziggurat building in downtown Oklahoma City to be the future home and headquarters of the firm.
Real Estate

2019 - 2021

Echo acquires interests in six landmark commercial real estate properties across emerging U.S. urban markets.
Venture

2020

Echo incubates first platform companies in the life science and media & entertainment verticals, with seed investments in Wheeler Bio and Prairie Surf Media.
Our Win

2022

Echo undergoes $32.5 million partial sale of mineral and royalty interests to Brigham Minerals (NYSE: MNRL).
Echo drives regional coalition and leads proposal for a $35 million federal grant from the Build Back Better Regional Challenge – and wins – setting the stage for Convergence, BioTC Oklahoma, and other key projects in the region.
The Science

2023

Echo completes deployment of $20 million life sciences fund.

Echo’s platform company Wheeler Bio celebrates grand opening of downtown biomanufacturing facility. 

Community

2024

Echo launches Impact investing strategy to drive inclusive community development, including initiation and management of a $15 million fund to build and advance minority start-ups.

Echo completes milestone asset sale of mineral and royalty interests with Sixth Street totaling more than half a billion dollars.

Echo expands portfolio of media & entertainment investments by becoming majority owner of OKC’s professional soccer club.