Elizabeth Koch (publisher)
Elizabeth Robinson Koch | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976 (age 49–50) Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) Syracuse University (MFA) |
| Occupation | Nonprofit founder |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Chase Koch (brother) |
Elizabeth Robinson Koch (/koʊk/ KOHK; born 1976) is an American publisher, writer, and nonprofit founder. The daughter of billionaire businessman Charles Koch, she founded the publishing company Catapult in 2015. Koch has founded and donated to multiple organizations involved in the research and popular study of consciousness, self-perception, and psychedelic therapy.
Early life and education
Koch is the daughter of American businessman Charles Koch and Liz Koch.[1] She has a brother, Chase Koch.[2] Koch grew up in Wichita, Kansas,[3] and is a graduate of Wichita Collegiate School.[2] She earned a B.A. in English literature from Princeton University and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Syracuse University.[1]
Career
Koch has worked in journalism, book editing, and periodicals, including at Opium Magazine.[1] She co-founded the Literary Death Match reading series and Black Balloon Publishing.[1] Koch was an executive producer for the films Beasts of No Nation (2015) and Harriet (2019).[1][3]
Catapult
In 2015, Koch and Andy Hunter launched Catapult, a publishing venture that combined book publishing, an online magazine, and writing classes. Hunter was publisher and Koch was CEO.[4]
In 2016, Catapult and Counterpoint Press finalized a merger agreement that included the Counterpoint and Soft Skull Press imprints.[5] Publishers Weekly later described the arrangement as bringing Counterpoint and Soft Skull under Catapult.[6]
Hunter stepped down as publisher of Catapult, Counterpoint, and Soft Skull Press in February 2022.[7] In 2023, Catapult announced that it would close its online magazine and writing classes program to focus on book publishing.[8]
The book-publishing operation continued as Catapult Book Group, whose imprints include Catapult, Counterpoint Press, Soft Skull Press, and Hawthorne Books.[9]
Nonprofit work
In 2014, Koch founded Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, a neuroscience research foundation focused on consciousness and self-perception.[3][10] In 2018, she founded Unlikely Collaborators, a nonprofit focused on self-investigation.[3][10][11]
In 2018, Koch underwent MDMA-assisted therapy and later became a donor to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.[11][12]
Personal life
As of 2023, Koch was married to Jason Kakoyiannis.[3] She has stated that she is "apolitical".[3][10]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Maloney, Jennifer (September 10, 2015). "A Literary Koch Launches New Publishing House". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - 1 2 Severns, Maggie (December 14, 2018). "The Next Koch Doesn't Like Politics". Politico Magazine. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
Charles Koch was deeply involved in the board at Koch and Elizabeth's school, Wichita Collegiate School, which completed the Koch Upper School after donations from the family.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Barnes, Brooks (February 23, 2023). "The Billionaire's Daughter Knows What You're Thinking". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ↑ Swanson, Clare (February 3, 2015). "Founders of Electric Lit, Black Balloon Launch New Publishing Venture". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Milliot, Jim (September 1, 2016). "Catapult, Counterpoint Merge". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Maher, John (September 21, 2018). "Two Years Post-merger, Catapult, Counterpoint, and Soft Skull Are Going Strong". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Maher, John (February 2, 2022). "Andy Hunter Steps Down at Catapult". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Stewart, Sophia (February 14, 2023). "Catapult to Shutter Online Magazine, Writing Classes". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ "About Us". Catapult. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Livni, Ephrat (December 14, 2018). "Here's why Elizabeth Koch, the daughter of a GOP megadonor, chose science over politics". Quartz. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- 1 2 Nuwer, Rachel (December 30, 2023). "The daughter of multi-millionaire oil tycoon Charles Koch thought she had to be liked to deserve to exist, until MDMA therapy". Business Insider. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ↑ Nuwer, Rachel Love (2023). I Feel Love: MDMA and the Quest for Connection in a Fractured World. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63557-957-4.