Peyton Smith
Founder/CEO
Peyton Smith is the founder and CEO of Black Kanyon, a private-equity firm based in Lake Norden, South Dakota.
What sets Peyton apart isn’t just what he builds, but how he builds it. In an industry obsessed with numbers, he leads with people and story; recognizing that culture and high-performing teams are the real leverage. He believes the best investments start with trust, because the numbers only matter once the people behind them do.
From a small town in South Dakota, he’s proving that opportunity isn’t confined to big cities or conventional paths. His work reflects a simple belief, trust comes before transaction, and relationships drive value.