“We never tell builders how to operate. We try to understand the professional and personal challenges they’re facing, and if we can’t offer a solution, we connect them to like-minded peers who can. Listening is core to what we do.”
Shortly after I started at Founders Circle, I learned a fellow Hoo’d soon join us. For the uninitiated, that’s a University of Virginia alumnus. This turned into a much greater fortune than I initially imagined. An experienced tech banker and passionate investor, Ryan has taught me a great deal about the companies we work with and immediately applied his knowledge and hustle to add tremendous value to the investing team.
Back at UVA, Ryan was accepted to the McIntire School of Commerce, where he picked up the finance & accounting skills he needed to jumpstart his career. During his time at UVA, Ryan took great pleasure in mentoring younger students. He’ll be returning to Charlottesville in the Spring to continue this work as a guest lecturer for the senior seminar on venture capital.
However, finance wasn’t his only passion – Ryan also received a Global Sustainability degree at UVA, where he wrestled with solving social and environmental issues in an economically sustainable fashion. These experiences drew him to Founders Circle, where companies like Tala and Imperfect play a part in addressing such issues at scale.
After college, Ryan returned to the Bay Area, a decision he couldn’t be happier about. He started his career at Barclays as a tech investment banker, where he advised on over 25 different M&A and capital markets transactions. After working on high-profile IPOs for companies like Uber, Crowdstrike, and Chewy, Ryan knew he wanted to get into venture and help these companies along their journey to success. Two years later, he saw the chance to join a group of genuine people doing just that, and he didn’t think twice.
Outside of work, Ryan’s motto is good music and great friends, best enjoyed together. He and his three closest friends live in a house on the edge of the Presidio. Together they’ve taken full advantage of San Francisco’s music scene, having attended over 30 different live concerts since moving to the city. When Ryan isn’t planning his next concert, you’ll find him surfing at Ocean Beach, cycling in the Marin Headlands, or roller-blading around Golden Gate Park. Don’t hesitate to stop him and say hello if you do!
by Owen Van Arsdale
