R1 Capital

Status

ACTIVE

Global HQ

Columbus, United States

Countries of investment

United States

Investment stages

Seed
Series A

Industries

Enterprise AI
Software
Deep Tech
Life Sciences
Healthcare
Biotech

About
R1 Capital is a Columbus-based venture capital firm focused on backing visionary founders in enterprise AI, deep tech, and life sciences. Their focus spans enterprise software, AI, life sciences, and deep tech across the United States. The firm supports Midwest and national founders from seed through Series A stages.

Min check size: $2M
Max check size: $10M
Fund size: Unlock
NPS: Unlock

Investment Thesis

R1 Capital is a seed and Series A stage venture capital firm deploying capital across enterprise AI, deep tech, and life sciences sectors. They invest in founders solving complex real-world problems in large undercapitalized markets outside coastal tech hubs. The firm differentiates itself through Midwest roots, national reach, and its close partnership with Rev1 Ventures' studio platform.

Lead investor: Unlock
Co Invest: Unlock
Number of exits: Unlock
Preferred contact method: Unlock

Manager's Experience

Led by Tom Walker (CEO and Managing Partner) and Ryan Helon (Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner). The team has invested together across multiple fund cycles for more than a decade, supporting more than 150 startups. Originally the investment arm of Rev1 Ventures, the team spun out in 2026 to build a dedicated venture firm focused on Midwest founders across enterprise AI, deep tech, and life sciences.