About
Managing Director at Mercato who joined from Escalate Capital as an Austin-based mezzanine investor. Named a 2024 Venture Capital Outstanding Director and one of Business Insider's most important VCs in the Rockies; led Mercato's largest fundraise and sits on multiple portfolio boards.
Invests in
Enterprise SoftwareSaaS
Experience
- Mercato PartnersGrowth Investorcurrent2015 — presentGreater Salt Lake City Area
- Kauffman FellowsKauffman Fellow - Class 26current2021 — present
- Alta View CapitalAngel Investorcurrent2015 — presentSalt Lake City Metropolitan Area
- Rocky Mountain Venture Capital AssociationBoard Member2017 — 2022
- Escalate CapitalMezzanine Investor2010 — 2015Austin, Texas Area
- ComcastBusiness Operations Manager2009 — 2010
- Daylight PartnersConsultant2009 — 2010Austin, Texas, United States
- Impact Venture PartnersGraduate Intern2009Austin, Texas, United States
- Silverton PartnersVenture Fellows Intern2007 — 2009Austin, Texas, United States
- The UT Golf ClubDirector2003 — 2007Austin, Texas, United States
- Calixus Networks (fka Portal Communities)Founder, Board Member2000 — 2004Provo, Utah, United States
- First Union SecuritiesAnalyst, Technology Group1999 — 2000Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Skills & more
Start-ups20Corporate Development7Financial Analysis14Financial Modeling21Due Diligence4Venture Capital31Small Business3Mergers & Acquisitions12Valuation4Investments2Entrepreneurship3Corporate Finance2
+12 more
M&A experienceExecutive ManagementPrivate EquityManagementStrategyLeadershipStrategic PartnershipsBusiness DevelopmentStrategic PlanningSoftware as a Service (SaaS)Business StrategyFinanceFrom Ryan's professional profile.
Investments
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at Mercato Partners
Amy Cooper
Executive Assistant at Mercato Partners
Austin Lignell
Associate at Mercato Partners
Ben Davis
Director at Mercato Partners
Brian Lanier
Chief Financial Officer at Mercato Partners
Casey Nixon
Senior Associate at Mercato Partners
Dave Boyce
Director at Mercato Partners
Easter Niko
Fund Controller at Mercato Partners
Giovanni Calo
Investment Analyst at Mercato Partners
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ryan Sanders?
- Managing Director at Mercato who joined from Escalate Capital as an Austin-based mezzanine investor. Named a 2024 Venture Capital Outstanding Director and one of Business Insider's most important VCs in the Rockies; led Mercato's largest fundraise and sits on multiple portfolio boards.
- Where does Ryan Sanders work?
- Ryan Sanders is Managing Director at Mercato Partners.
- What does Ryan Sanders invest in?
- Ryan Sanders invests in Enterprise Software, SaaS.
- What boards does Ryan Sanders sit on?
- Ryan Sanders holds tracked board seats at Atomic, Lambda, Lendio, ObservePoint, Stance.
- Where did Ryan Sanders go to school?
- Ryan Sanders studied at Texas McCombs School of Business (MBA, General Management - Entrepreneurship); Brigham Young University (BS, Finance).
Same school
Also attended Texas McCombs School of Business245
Bill GurleyGeneral Partner Emeritus at BenchmarkArnon DinurPartner at 83NorthMonica SolizDirector, Marketing at Sapphire VenturesDale ChangOperating Partner at Scale Venture PartnersJoel HemmertFinance/Legal/IR at 8VCMadison McDonaldFinance/Legal/IR at 8VC
+ 239 more
Also attended Brigham Young University294
Jake StormDeal Partner at Felicis VenturesJen ArdManaging Director, Head of Investment Operations at Intel CapitalNathan MickelsenVice President of Tax at RevolutionJohn SabinChief Financial Officer; President, Revolution Places at RevolutionDiogo MyrrhaPartner at Peak VenturesSid KrommenhoekPartner at Album
+ 288 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Kauffman Fellows380
Jenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaTobi CokerDeal Partner at Felicis VenturesRoi Bar-KatManaging Director at Intel CapitalAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel CapitalNick WashburnSenior Managing Director, Intel Capital (North America)Vinnie LauriaFounding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures
+ 374 more
Also worked at Rocky Mountain Venture Capital Association11
Les CraigInvestor at Next Frontier CapitalScott PettyGP & Senior Advisor at Signal Peak VenturesJack BorenManaging Partner at EPIC VENTURESAri NewmanCo-Founder, GP at MassiveJohn MayfieldPartner at Album VCRick PatchFounding Partner (Retired) at SpringTime Ventures
+ 5 more
Also worked at Escalate Capital4
Also worked at Comcast48
Ryan KingCo-founder of ChimeWesley BarrowPartner at Correlation VenturesLee JacobsEntrepreneur, investor, and cofounder of EdelweissTodd WallachEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation SpaceDaniel MurrayVenture Partner at Calibrate VenturesMatt CarbonaraInvestor at Mayfield Fund
+ 42 more



















.png)


.avif)



















