Blake Johnson

Blake Johnson grew up on a cattle ranch in El Centro, California. In an alumni interview, he connected his early-rising and work habits with this upbringing.⁠[1]

He belongs to The Webb Schools’ class of 1995, served on its Honor Committee and played football and tennis. He later returned for student career events.⁠[1]

According to his account, he was not admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy and instead attended the University of Arizona. After college, he spent approximately four years in financial sales.⁠[2]

He recalled receiving an offer from a Los Angeles financial company while preparing for business school, negotiating a 50% equity stake and joining as a partner. He dates the start of his entrepreneurial career to 2005.⁠[2]

He has described his fast-growing business as coming close to bankruptcy during the financial crisis. The experience prompted renewed attention to cash flow, spending and customer acquisition costs.⁠[3]

A later statement from Commercial Credit Consultants said the credit consulting business operated by that company, IMC Capital and Prime Credit was sold to a private equity group in 2014. It identified Johnson and Eric Schlegel as former principals.⁠[4]

He established the Blake Johnson Alliance to support education, arts, sciences and social well-being for young people in Los Angeles, including access to learning opportunities and mentors.⁠[5]

The Federal Trade Commission issued an early termination notice naming Lovell Minnick Equity Partners IV LP as the acquiring party and Blake Johnson as the acquired party, covering Currency Capital and related entities. The record does not disclose a transaction price.⁠[6]

Johnson and Scott Cohen cofounded clear-aligner company Byte. Bodman, the law firm involved in its formation and sale, identifies both as founders; the company subsequently marketed at-home alignment products directly to consumers.⁠[7]

Kirkland & Ellis announced that it advised Lovell Minnick on a growth capital investment in Currency Capital and related entities. Currency Capital operated an online equipment financing exchange serving small and medium-sized businesses.⁠[8]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Johnson, Schlegel and three companies, alleging unlawful advance fees and misleading claims about credit score improvements. The companies said they settled to avoid the time and expense of further litigation.⁠[9][4]

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California entered a stipulated judgment imposing a $1.53 million civil penalty jointly and severally on the defendants and restricting their participation in credit repair services for five years. Except as specified in the order, they neither admitted nor denied the complaint’s allegations.⁠[10]

Bodman’s transaction case study dates the launch of Byte’s product line to 2019, followed by business expansion. Its early model centered on remote services and clear aligners used at home.⁠[7]

Dentsply Sirona acquired Byte for $1.04 billion in cash, closing the transaction on this date and announcing it on January 4, 2021. The existing management team was to continue leading the business. The figure represents the company purchase price, rather than Johnson’s personal net worth.⁠[11]

A donation announcement recorded his $5,000 contribution to C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California. Its executive director said the funds would support programs for college access, persistence and success.⁠[12]

Los Angeles Business Journal named him Philanthropist of the Year in its annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards, recognizing his work for local young people through the Blake Johnson Alliance.⁠[5]

After the acquisition, Dentsply Sirona announced a voluntary suspension of Byte aligner and impression-kit sales, marketing and new-order processing while reviewing regulatory requirements in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.⁠[13]

Dentsply Sirona subsequently decided not to reinstate Byte’s at-home aligner and impression-kit business. It redirected capabilities toward care with in-person dentist oversight while continuing appropriate support for existing patients.⁠[14]

School of Hard Knocks Podcast published an approximately 47-minute interview discussing his financial-crisis experience, bootstrapping, customer acquisition costs, team building and company sales.⁠[15]

His interviews emphasize cash flow, spending discipline and ongoing measurement of customer acquisition costs. His personal website is https://blakebjohnson.com/ (opens in a new window) and the alliance website is https://www.theblakejohnsonalliance.com/ (opens in a new window). His public biography also records his entrepreneurial roles at Currency Capital and IM Capital Access.⁠[3][16]