Ryan Isono
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Founding a company requires incredible bravery and grit – I admire every entrepreneur for all the risks, sacrifices, and doubts they overcome to chase their dream. It is something I haven’t done (yet) and it is a privilege to be part of a founder’s journey.
Ryan Isono is a Partner at Felicis. At Felicis, Ryan has sourced and works closely with the firm’s investments in Ethena, n8n, Stream, Poly, Topkey and few unannounced companies. Before joining Felicis, Ryan was part of the investment team at Correlation Ventures, a data-driven venture capital fund in San Francisco, and Revel Partners, a New York-based venture capital fund focused on B2B software. Before Revel, Ryan worked in investment banking in Credit Suisse’s New York office. Ryan received an A.B. in economics from Harvard College.
Founding a company requires incredible bravery and grit – I admire every entrepreneur for all the risks, sacrifices, and doubts they overcome to chase their dream. It is something I haven’t done (yet) and it is a privilege to be part of a founder’s journey.
How has your upbringing shaped your worldview?
I grew up as part of a multicultural family - my dad is Japanese and my mom is Italian. Two very different cultures, but they’ve had an equal part in shaping who I am. My family’s history inspires me and always keeps everything in perspective. My Japanese relatives were detained in internment camps across the country during World War II. Still, as proud American immigrants, they fought for the United States as part of the 442nd Regiment, which became one of the most decorated units in military history. At the same time, halfway across the world, my family in Italy helped harbor Jewish refugees through their homes to escape persecution. I feel honored to come from this background and have always been encouraged by my parents to stay true to my values and upbringing.
What is your favorite part of the job?
I love working closely with founders, especially those who understand a problem or market better than anyone else and have unique, opinionated viewpoints. I feel lucky to work side by side with teams through all the ups and downs to understand their problems, help them find solutions, and dream about what the future will look like. Getting to work with and learn from founders is something I’ll never take for granted.
Who is someone you admire and why?
My parents. Growing up with very little, they worked relentlessly to get to where they are today and continue to do so. As an orthopedic surgeon and an occupational therapist with their own practices, they are true self-made entrepreneurs. They’ve instilled in me the importance of work ethic and always pursuing something you love.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work, and how do you find balance?
Hiking with my wife and our two bernedoodles, playing basketball, and more recently, golf. As a relative newcomer to the sport, I caught the bug immediately. It is incredibly humbling yet rewarding, impossible to perfect, and an endless exercise in self-improvement.