BYU Marriott School of Business finance alumnus Taylor DeHart says that investing in emerging restaurants might not be viewed as the most exciting job, but helping founders build their own version of the American dream makes it deeply fulfilling. “We are able to help build something truly special that can transform lives,” he says. “And that’s the cool part.”
The desire to build something drove DeHart’s decision to turn down a full-time offer out of college from Apple to instead join Four Foods Group, a small, growth-stage restaurant operator organization based in Utah. “I had the assurance from the founder of Four Foods Group that he was going to intentionally invest in my development as a professional, and he was going to invest in me personally,” DeHart says.
According to DeHart, that promise was fulfilled from the minute he walked into the organization. He was given responsibilities that he says he had “no business doing” as a young professional, including stepping into board rooms and advising restaurant founders on their next business decisions.
A few years into DeHart’s time with Four Foods Group, the firm rebranded as Savory Fund, a private equity fund that invests in emerging restaurants to scale them into larger brands. As an associate, DeHart collaborated with the founding team to raise two separate $100 million funds and now works with the team as they raise a third fund. DeHart’s role has grown along with Savory, and in 2025 he was promoted to director.
As DeHart manages Savory’s investment portfolio—including Swig, Houston TX Hot Chicken, and Via 313 Pizza—he’s also made sure to invest time into his family. “A mentor once told me that your career will rise no higher than the happiness of your spouse,” he says. “I take that very seriously.”
DeHart says his wife has been involved in every step of his career journey and his current role at Savory. “She’s my number one advisor,” he says. “I consult her when I face challenges or when things are exciting. She participates in both the ups and the downs.”
He has included his four kids in the process, too. “I’ve realized I’ll spend most of my life working, and I want my children to feel like they’re part of that journey,” DeHart says. And while they may not yet be old enough to contribute to board meetings, DeHart says his children still get excited about his work, knowing which brands the company owns and their favorite menu item at each.
His focus on investing in people also shapes how he manages the capital entrusted to him, DeHart explains. “When we sit down to make an investment, it’s a true partnership moment,” he says. Remembering the people behind the brands is what DeHart says gives him energy to do what’s necessary to get positive results.
“On one hand, I’m a steward of capital from people who’ve worked incredibly hard for what they’ve earned,” DeHart says. “On the other, I'm a steward of someone’s brand, which can feel even more personal, because it represents who they are.”
And seeing his work as making investments in people is one reason DeHart says his job is so satisfying. During his time at Savory, DeHart and his team have helped breast cancer survivor Nicole Tanner build her establishment, Swig, into a large enough brand to fund breast cancer treatment for women. DeHart also recalls helping two brothers bring their grandma’s Hawaiian barbecue to tables across the nation with Mo’ Bettahs.
“In this industry, taking risks means you’ll win some and lose some,” DeHart says. “But if you approach it with a sense of stewardship, you’ll usually come out ahead.”
