“Promise Holdings is a consumer-focused private investment firm created to help high potential companies, and high potential people, reach their fullest Promise. Our only investment criteria are:(a) Great people, (b) Great ideas, and (c) Great fun. Our Promise to everyone we come into contact with - is that we always work with high integrity, high energy, high impact and high trust."


The Team

Gordon C.C. Liao

Founder & Partner

A life-long resident of the Chicago area (originally from the far Southside), Gordon is an independent entrepreneur, investor, operator and performer. He is a Co-founder and Partner of investment firms Promise Holdings LLC, Modjule LLC, Seismic CPG LLC and 4C Capital LLC, also founding and serving in operational roles in both control buyouts and early stage start-ups, primarily in the Consumer space. Among his companies where he is a co-owner and active board member/observer of, include Hickory Farms, Gateway Newsstands, SwingKing, HairClinical and AKIRA.


Companies





AKIRA

First opened in 2002 as one Women's boutique in the trendy Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago and is owned by Eric Hsueh, Erikka Wang, Sarah Hughes, and Gordon Liao. AKIRA offers a full-line of Women's clothing, footwear, and accessories, carrying brands such as adidas, Champion, I.AM.GIA and even our own private labels.

shopakira.com

Azalea Wang

Azalea Wang is a cutting-edge designer and seller of trendy shoes for women from all walks of life.

azaleawang.com

Chicago Switchboard

Chicago Switchboard, is a leading manufacturer of custom‐engineered electrical power distribution equipment, including switchgear, switchboards and panelboards. The Company has built leading share positions in its target markets and is a preferred supplier to many blue‐chip customers who value Chicago Switchboard’s extensive engineering capabilities, high quality products and outstanding customer service. With its deep product innovation and design capabilities, Chicago Switchboard is focused on providing highly‐engineered, value‐added products to its core end markets – general commercial, institutional, manufacturing, infrastructure and data centers – as well as numerous other diverse industries. The Company has established a leading position in many of its end markets through its short manufacturing lead times, premium product quality and comprehensive support services.

chiswbd.com

ESQ Clothing

The ESQ garment is the pinnacle of men's tailoring as an art. It represents the countless hours and the tireless men and women whom have achieved the highest level of sartorial excellence. From your initial fitting and pattern making, to the final button sewn and ironing process, the ESQ suit renders itself an unmatched dream garment.

esqclothing.com


Foodbarz

FoodBarz is the leading high-end commercial foodservice amenity service to multi-tenant suburban office buildings. The company currently has leases for 10 locations located in large, suburban office buildings in the Chicago area where it is the exclusive food provider.

foodbarz.com


Galaxy Technologies

Galaxy Technologies, located in Winfield, Kansas near the heart of the Air Capital, is a “best value” business partner to companies around the world with complex design and manufacturing needs. We are a major supplier for the design, manufacturing and assembly of production tooling for the aerospace, defense and plastic markets. Major customers include Boeing, Spirit Aerosystems, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Rubbermaid and Coleman

galaxytool.com


Marathon Ventures Inc.

Founded in 1915 and based in Bellevue, Nebraska, Marathon Ventures (”MVI”) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of private label baking and snacking nuts, as well as our own brand of snack nuts called Pear’s Snacks.

marathonventuresinc.com

Maya Romanoff

Maya Romanoff is the largest manufacturer of handcrafted wallcoverings in the United States. For more than 40 years, their artisans have incorporated glass beads, gold leaf, seashells, wood and stitching right in their Chicago studio.

mayaromanoff.com


Stride Tool

We are a worldwide designer and manufacturer of specialty hand tools for the professional and DIY market. Our flagship brand, Imperial® has been a pioneer in the manufacturing of brass valves and fittings, and developed into the worldwide leader of innovative products serving the HVAC/R service and tube working tool industries.

stridetool.com