About
Investor and advisor to growth businesses through his own VC fund and partnerships with venture and PE firms. Spent his career at W.W. Grainger, retiring as Chairman in 2017 after serving as CEO from 2008 to 2016.
Experience
- Ryan Family FoundationCo Managing Partnercurrent2014 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- The Grainger FoundationBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentLake Forest, Illinois, United States
- 1809 CapitalCo-Foundercurrent2020 — presentOxford, Ohio, United States
- NextGen Growth PartnersAdvisory Boardcurrent2020 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- Solarcore®Board Membercurrent2024 — presentPortland, Oregon, United States
- PreFix Home MaintenanceBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- LandscapeHubBoard Membercurrent2018 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- DePaul UniversityChairman, Board of Trustees2017 — 2020Chicago, Illinois, United States
- WW GraingerChief Executive Officer, Chairman2008 — 2017Lake Forest, Illinois, United States
Colleagues at 1809 Capital
Aaron Ryan
Founder of Belden Avenue Advisors at 1809 Capital
Brian Wolfe
Partner at Kirkland & Ellis at 1809 Capital
Chris Siebers
Accounting (Service Provider), Founder of Sieber CPA at 1809 Capital
Connor Oviatt
Venture Capital Investment Competition at 1809 Capital
David Schwab
Executive Vice President at Octagon Sports & Entertainment Network at 1809 Capital
Erin Graham
Digital Media (Service Provider), Founder of Post Ghost at 1809 Capital
Greg Barns
Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners at 1809 Capital
Howard BobRow
Law (Service Provider), Taft Law at 1809 Capital
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Jim Ryan?
- Investor and advisor to growth businesses through his own VC fund and partnerships with venture and PE firms. Spent his career at W.W. Grainger, retiring as Chairman in 2017 after serving as CEO from 2008 to 2016.
- Where does Jim Ryan work?
- Jim Ryan is Founder / Senior Advisor at 1809 Capital.
- Where did Jim Ryan go to school?
- Jim Ryan studied at Miami University (Bachelor's degree, Marketing); DePaul University (Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business Administration and Management); Harvard Business School (CEO Advanced Management Program, CIO Advanced Management Program).
Same school
Also attended Miami University127
Kate WilschutzChief Financial Officer, Revolution Funds at RevolutionSean KwiatVice President, Investments at CincyTechKevin RileyBoard Member at CincyTechMike FitzgeraldInvestor at High AlphaKevin SchultzEntrepreneur in Residence at Storm VenturesSam YehAnalyst at Miami University Redhawk Ventures
+ 121 more
Also attended DePaul University55
Liz WesthouseHead of Community & Partnerships, Rise of the Rest at RevolutionDave HuttenAdvisor at CincyTechErika BoldenOperations Manager at Two Bear CapitalJason FelgerPartner at Jump CapitalChloe BierutCommunity & Events Manager at Energize VenturesMichael PalankInvestor at MaC Venture Capital
+ 49 more
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesHristo BorisovCo-founder & CEO of Payhawk
+ 1,994 more
Shared employers
Also worked at NextGen Growth Partners4
Also worked at Solarcore®2
Also worked at LandscapeHub2
Also worked at DePaul University7
Cris NeckarPartner at Two Bear CapitalCaroline LucasMarketing & Communications Coordinator at NYU Innovation Venture FundLindsey DsouzaFinance Associate at FrontenacElizabeth DonovanHead of Investor Relations & Business Development North America at Left Lane CapitalJim DetersGeneral Partner at Upslope VenturesJason JacobsohnManaging Partner at Propellant Ventures
+ 1 more