Ryan Petersen

Ryan Petersen, widely recognized as the visionary founder and CEO of Flexport, is also a highly strategic and active angel investor. His investment portfolio reflects a deep understanding of the global supply chain, logistics, and the technological innovations required to modernize these sectors. Petersen primarily focuses on early-stage companies, typically from pre-seed to Series A, that are building foundational infrastructure, B2B software, or fintech solutions designed to enhance business operations and efficiency.

Petersen's investment thesis is heavily influenced by his entrepreneurial journey at Flexport, where he experienced firsthand the complexities and inefficiencies of global trade. He seeks out founders who are tackling significant, often overlooked, problems with innovative and scalable solutions. Beyond capital, Petersen offers invaluable strategic guidance, leveraging his extensive network, operational expertise, and insights into scaling a global technology company. He is known for his hands-on approach, providing mentorship and opening doors for his portfolio companies.

His angel investment activity is robust, with a portfolio that includes over 50 companies. Notable investments span across various sectors, including corporate finance platforms like Ramp and Mercury, developer tools such as Vanta and OpenPhone, and logistics technology firms like Stord. Petersen often participates in highly competitive seed and Series A rounds, which can range from $2 million to $20 million, demonstrating his ability to identify and back promising ventures early in their lifecycle.

Petersen's involvement often serves as a strong signal of validation for nascent startups, attracting further institutional capital and talent. He looks for companies with strong product-market fit potential and founders with exceptional execution capabilities, aiming for long-term value creation and significant industry disruption. His commitment to fostering innovation within the B2B technology and logistics ecosystems makes him a highly sought-after angel investor for ambitious founders.