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Dru Nkansah and Phil Dontje met as Ranger buddies in the U.S. Army. Years later, they saw a path that combined the work they care most about—leadership, stewardship, and service—and decided to team up to launch Iron Bound, with the goal of acquiring and leading a business with the same integrity and discipline that shaped them in uniform.
They have gained the backing of several respected mentors and investors who believe in their vision, including Trilogy Search Partners, Pacific Lake, Aspect Investors, Futaleufu Partners, Next Coast Legacy, TTCER, Mosaic ETA, Reframe Capital, BK Growth, and Mertal Family Partners.
Dru brings a strong foundation in leadership, strategy, and operations from his eight years as a U.S. Army officer, including service in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment and a command role at NSA-Georgia, for which he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. A graduate of West Point and the Stanford GSB, Dru combines his military experience with a passion for entrepreneurship, focusing on acquiring and growing a high-quality business.
Phil brings 15 years of leadership experience from the U.S. Army, where he served in intelligence and operational roles, primarily within the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. Known for his structured thinking and calm leadership, Phil led teams through 43 months of combat deployments and played a key role in establishing the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion. After medically retiring in 2020, he earned a B.S. in Mathematics and is completing an M.S. in Data Analytics, complementing his operational background with a focus on data-informed decision-making.
Both are hands-on operators committed to partnering with owners who are ready to transition their company into trusted hands.
