R1 Capital backs founders building technology that transforms how major industries operate.

We help founders scale their businesses while shaping the industries of the future - connecting them to talent, customers, partners, and follow-on capital. We work alongside founders to sharpen strategy, build high-impact teams, and accelerate traction. Our disciplined investment approach focuses on technical advantage, capital efficiency, and large, scalable markets. We reserve capital to double down and support founders at every critical stage. Through our partnership with Rev1 Ventures, founders gain access to advisors, programs, and infrastructure that extend far beyond capital.

The Team
Tom Walker
CEO & Managing Partner Read Bio
Ryan Helon
Chief Investments Officer & Managing Partner Read Bio
Melinda Gloriosa
Vice President, Investments Read Bio
Justin Probst
Vice President, Finance & Operations Read Bio
Meghan Hoffman
Associate, Life Sciences Investments Read Bio
Riley Shelton
Associate, Investments Read Bio
Grant Berliner
Associate, Investments Read Bio
Parker MacDonell
Venture Partner Read Bio
Wayne Embree
Venture Partner Read Bio
Kim Garland
Venture Partner Read Bio
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Tom Walker

Founder & CEO

Tom Walker is the Founder and CEO of R1 Capital and a hands-on venture investor who works closely with founders at the earliest and most critical stages of company building. He brings nearly 30 years of experience in venture capital, innovation, and early-stage company building, partnering with founders as they move from idea to traction to scale. Tom is also the founding CEO of Rev1 Ventures, where over the past decade he helped build one of the nation’s top venture studios and backed more than 200 venture-backed companies across software, SaaS, deep tech, and life sciences. Founders work with Tom on market focus, early customers, product-market fit, and capital strategy—along with access to the right partners and investors when timing matters most.

Ryan Helon

EVP, Investment Funds

Ryan Helon is EVP of Investment Funds at R1 Capital and a hands-on early-stage investor who partners closely with founders from first check through scale. He leads proof-of-concept, seed, and early-stage investment funds and works alongside founders on valuation, deal structuring, portfolio strategy, and investor engagement. Ryan has been part of the Rev1 Ventures leadership team since 2012, helping build one of the most active early-stage investment platforms in the Great Lakes region. During his tenure, Rev1 invested in more than 70 companies across software, healthcare, and deep tech. Ryan is deeply engaged in the Central Ohio startup ecosystem and supports companies commercializing technologies from leading research and healthcare institutions.

Melinda Gloriosa

Managing Director, Investment Funds

Melinda Gloriosa is an investment professional focused on early-stage technology investing across R1 Capital’s managed funds. Since joining the firm in 2021, she has invested in multiple venture vehicles spanning AI-enabled SaaS, deep tech, and life sciences. Previously, Melinda served as Managing Director of WillowWorks, a corporate venture fund, where she helped launch and manage the fund and led several of its investments. Over her career, she has invested more than $16 million across 27 companies and participated in over 40 financing rounds. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA.

Justin Probst

Vice President, Finance & Operations

Justin Probst leads operations and finance at R1 Capital, partnering across the investment lifecycle from capital formation, to growth, and including portfolio oversight. Prior to R1 Capital, Justin spent nearly a decade at Stonehenge Structured Finance Partners and its portfolio companies, where he secured credit for growing companies, led leverage bond financing across multiple funds, and launched dedicated agricultural investment funds. As VP of Finance at Conterra Asset Management, a startup in the agricultural mortgage space, he built out the firm's finance department and asset-liability management infrastructure and supported the sale of a Conterra division. He has secured financing for growing companies focused on contract manufacturing, software, and energy efficiency. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Elon University and an MBA from The Ohio State University.

Meghan Hoffman

Investment Associate

Meghan Hoffman focuses on life sciences and spinout investments at R1 Capital, supporting sourcing, diligence, and portfolio development. She joined the firm in 2024. Prior to R1 Capital, Meghan served as a life sciences strategy consultant at Accenture and held roles in pharmaceutical sales and discovery chemistry at Eli Lilly and Merck. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from The Ohio State University.

Riley Shelton

Investment Associate

Riley Shelton supports sourcing, diligence, and portfolio management across R1 Capital’s AI-enabled enterprise SaaS and insurtech investments. Since joining the firm in 2021, he has played a key role in underwriting early-stage companies and supporting portfolio growth initiatives. Prior to R1 Capital, Riley worked in venture diligence and startup operations, bringing technical and analytical experience to the investment process. He studied Computer Information Systems at the University of Akron.

Grant Berliner

Investment Associate

Grant Berliner supports sourcing, evaluation, and portfolio support across SaaS, life sciences, and deep tech investments. He joined R1 Capital in 2025. Prior to R1 Capital, Grant served as a Healthcare Innovation Analyst at Deloitte and co-founded Core Biomed. He holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Innovation and Development from Georgia Tech and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Parker MacDonell

Venture Partner

Parker MacDonell provides mentorship and advisory support across angel-stage and early-stage investments that feed R1 Capital’s pipeline. His long-standing experience in startup investing strengthens early deal sourcing and founder development.

Wayne Embree

Venture Partner

Wayne Embree brings nearly 40 years of venture capital experience, with deep expertise in forming and scaling spinouts from research institutions. He works closely with R1 Capital’s life sciences and deep tech portfolio companies, providing early-stage structuring insight and board-level guidance.

Kim Garland

Venture Partner

Kim Garland advises R1 Capital-backed companies in insurtech and financial services. His industry leadership and corporate relationships enhance sector-specific diligence, strategic positioning, and exit readiness.