Fundraising Fox

Ada Ryland

Investor

Early-stage Startup Strategist at Seed Round Capital

Austin, Texas, United States

About

Early-stage startup strategist and founder coach who blends customer development, business modeling, and lean methodology to help founders reach product-market fit. A mechanical engineer and former IBM consultant who has worked with over 300 founders and earned MassChallenge's Top Expert award in 2019.

LinkedIn ↗

Experience

  1. KeyChangeManaging Partnercurrent2023 — presentAustin, Texas, United States
  2. Seed Round CapitalFounder Advisorcurrent2020 — present
  3. Modern TenderFounder Advisorcurrent2025 — present
  4. SellerantFounder Advisory2020 — 2025
  5. LEANSTACKLEANSTACK Coach2020 — 2024Austin, Texas, United States
  6. Ada Ryland ConsultingStartup Strategist and Venture Designer2014 — 2023Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
  7. Ada Ryland ConsultingSmall Business Consultant/Copywriter2008 — 2013
  8. Food+CityPitch Challenge Director2019Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
  9. National Science FoundationAdjunct Instructor, I-Corps Program2017 — 2018Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
  10. IBMInnovation Program Manager2003 — 2005
  11. IBMBusiness Development Program Manager, Grid Computing2003
  12. IBMTechnology Evaluation Program Manager2001 — 2002
  13. IBMAdvanced Training/Education Specialist1999 — 2001Service Delivery Technology Center, Strategic Outsourcing, IBM Global Services
  14. IBMBusiness Innovation Consultant1998 — 1999Business Innovation Services, IBM Global Services

Education

  1. Southern Methodist UniversityBSME, Mechanical Engineering, Math minor

Skills & more

Design thinkingStrategy54Strategic Planning29Management26Leadership5Analysis5Public Speaking4Building TrustSystems Thinking3Fund-raisingStart-ups61Business Strategy26
+12 moreEntrepreneurshipInnovation ManagementBusiness DevelopmentProject ManagementTrainingLEEDProgram ManagementNew Business DevelopmentConsultingProject PlanningProject EngineeringCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • LEANSTACK Coach Certification, Level 2 (Advanced) — LEANSTACK
  • Cynefin Basecamp — The Cynefin Company
  • LEANSTACK Coach Certification, Level 1 — LEANSTACK
  • LEANSTACK Coach Certification Level 1 (Updated Content and Skills) — LEANSTACK
  • Psychological Safety: Clear Blocks to Innovation, Collaboration, and Risk-Taking — LinkedIn

From Ada's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended Southern Methodist University63

Minh DoAnalyst at Golden Gate VenturesJim DoehrmanAdvisor at Sierra VenturesTroy A. LeMaile-StovallCEO at Maryland TEDCOThomas MallakSenior Financial Analyst at AlleyCorpAlex GrasPrincipal at Mercury FundBeau BarnesCFO at JStar Capital Investments

+ 57 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Modern Tender1

Laurie Felker JonesVisiting Partner at True Wealth Ventures

Also worked at Sellerant1

Mary AlcantaraInvestment Partner at Interactive Venture Partners Llc

Also worked at LEANSTACK1

Vern ChanProgram Manager (Global) at UNSW Founders 10x

Also worked at National Science Foundation45

Corey RitterPartner at ARCH Venture PartnersVic SinghGeneral Partner at RRE VenturesFEN ZHAOChief Financial Officer at Alpha EdisonLucy LiuPrincipal at Longwood FundElisa Miller-OutCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Chloe CapitalPaul KimLearning & Development at Roble Ventures

+ 39 more

Colleagues at Seed Round Capital

Alex Tkacovs
Digital Strategy & Growth Guru at Seed Round Capital
Andrea Spirov
Principal, 'spired Marketing at Seed Round Capital
Austin Hill
Co-Founder and Managing Director at Seed Round Capital
Brad Jenkins
Co-Founder and CEO at Seed Round Capital
Chris McGraw
Founder, ExecFire at Seed Round Capital
David Kelly
Growth Hacking and Email Marketing Expert at Seed Round Capital
Feras Mousilli
Startup Law, Technology Transactions, and Intellectual Property at Seed Round Capital
Mark Henderson Leary
Certified EOS Implementer at Seed Round Capital