Trust, Energy, and Doing Every Deal Like It’s Your First

A Conversation with Longtime Maevlo
Partner and Advisor Bruce Hill

As someone who’s been around the oil and gas world for a long time, I’ve been fortunate to have seen many varied partnerships, pitches, and promises. I’m not quick to jump at new ventures, but every so often, you come across someone who sees the business, and the people in it, a little differently in a way that is attractive and fair.

That’s how it was with Matthew.

How We Met

I first crossed paths with Matthew when he was still over at Lime Rock, working with his partners in the Marcellus basin. We were buying in the same area, so our paths overlapped naturally.

Some time later, he called after a rough patch in the business, one of those moments that makes you step back and reflect. He told me he’d been thinking hard about what kind of business he wanted to build next.

At that point, I’d already helped a few folks start up mineral royalty companies, so I told him I’d back him. We helped fund his early deals and provided capital to him so he could invest alongside us. I’ve always believed investors like to invest in entities that have some assets (rather than a blind fund). It gives you a sense of what you’re really getting into. Matthew took that small start, built a team, and implemented a successful platform and business for his partners.

A Career Built on Tangibles

My own background is a bit of a long arc. I started as an oil and gas and real estate attorney, but quickly realized I was more interested in putting deals together than papering them. Over the years, I’ve invested in water rights, real estate, and royalties – forty years of success and setbacks, but have found some wonderful fellowship along the way. 

My rule of thumb has always been simple: I’ll look at the deal, sure, but I’m really looking at the person. I want to know who I’m working with and what they're going to do when no one’s watching. Every deal, even if it doesn’t go perfectly, can still be enjoyable if you’re doing it with people you trust and genuinely like.

Watching Maevlo Grow

Matthew is an entrepreneur and, as such, is happy to forge new paths on his own, but he always seeks out the opinions of others and strives to be more than just a partner, but someone who cares about each person he comes in contact with – a wonderful trait.

 I’ve seen other guys at his stage, after their third fund with some success in their pocket, decide to shut things down and keep the next few deals for themselves, leaving their investors behind. Matthew’s not that way. He’s kept his priorities where they belong. He’s family-first, honest, and focused on doing things the right way. That’s a rare thing in this industry. The royalties business, in particular, attracts some less-than-honest characters. You’re dealing with assets buried in the ground, checks from people you’ve never met, and sellers who sometimes don’t even know what they’re selling. I’ve even had someone try to sell me minerals I already owned before!

So when you find someone who does the work ethically, transparently, and with integrity, it’s a breath of fresh air. My motto has always been: do every deal like it’s your first deal and not like your last or one and only deal. Matthew gets that.

Now that he's gotten his feet under him, I mostly get to sit and watch from the sidelines, but I appreciate that he still calls to keep me updated on what he's got going on.  He doesn't have to do that; it's just reflective of who he is.

Thoughts on the Bitcoin Piece

When I first heard about the Bitcoin Treasury element of Maevlo IV, I thought, “Well, that’s an intriguing idea.” I figured at first it meant everyone would be automatically investing in Bitcoin, which wasn’t quite right.

Once I understood it better, it made sense: give investors the option. Let people make their own decisions, dollar-average along the way, and build something that reflects their own view of value. That’s how we've invested in all sorts of assets over the years; that's responsible management on Matthew's part. I enjoy that he's always keeping his eyes up, looking for interesting opportunities and ventures to go on, and is always looking for good partners to go with him.

After all these years, I still love deals that combine real assets, good people, and clear purpose. That’s why I’ve stuck with Matthew,  because every time we work together, it feels like the kind of deal worth doing.