R1 Capital launches as standalone venture firm spun out of Rev1 Ventures

The investment arm that has backed more than 150 Ohio startups over the past decade is stepping out on its own.

R1 Capital launched last week as an independent venture firm focused on enterprise AI and software, deep tech, and life sciences founders tackling complex problems in large, undercapitalized markets. The firm is a direct spinout of the investing arm previously housed within Rev1 Ventures, operating now under its own brand, funds, and investment strategy.

The distinction matters. Rev1 Ventures continues as a nonprofit venture studio focused on founder services and venture development. R1 Capital is a for-profit investment management company managing a series of seed and early-stage venture capital funds. All portfolio companies that received investment prior to the spinout now sit under R1 Capital's management.

"R1 Capital was built to back founders who are reshaping industries through technical innovation," said Tom Walker, CEO and Managing Partner. "Our focus has always been helping exceptional teams turn early momentum into enduring, category-defining businesses, and that commitment remains unchanged as R1 Capital begins this next chapter."

The launch comes as venture funding has grown increasingly concentrated. In 2025, 33% of all US VC dollars went to the top 1% of companies, a trend the 2026 NVCA Yearbook projects will continue. For founders building outside the coasts, that dynamic creates real friction, and it's the gap R1 Capital is explicitly positioning itself to address.

"Venture capital remains highly concentrated in a small number of companies and geographies, particularly in the Bay Area, which creates real challenges for founders building outside the coasts," said Ryan Helon, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner. "We see this every day in the companies we work with, whether we are leading rounds, participating in them, or helping founders find follow-on capital."

R1's response is a model built around execution, not just capital. The firm helps portfolio companies build the right teams, prioritize the right strategies, and hit milestones that make them attractive to follow-on investors. The team has invested together across multiple fund cycles for more than a decade, a continuity Helon says translates directly into how the firm operates with founders.

"We have seen what works and what does not across the 150-plus companies we've invested in," Helon commented. "As a small and nimble firm, we're able to be flexible, accessible, and responsive, bringing the right people into conversations with founders quickly to review strategy and execution."

Beyond capital and counsel, Walker says the recurring challenge founders face at the growth stage comes down to three things: talent, customers, and capital. Central Ohio's strengthening startup alumni network, including operators with experience at companies like CoverMyMeds, Root Insurance, and Beam Benefits, has become a valuable asset for R1 portfolio companies on the hiring side. Long-standing relationships with major regional institutions help open doors on the customer and partnership side.

The relationship with Rev1 Ventures also carries forward. R1 continues to advise on Rev1 programming and connects portfolio companies to the studio's resources, from innovation space and talent services to professional services networks, while also building early relationships with founders going through the studio pipeline.

"R1's collaboration with Rev1 Ventures allows us to punch above our weight," Walker stated. "It's highly collaborative and creates another way for R1 Capital to add value to our portfolio companies."

R1 Capital operates out of Rev1 at The Peninsula, the founder-focused innovation hub in Columbus designed for software and advanced technology startups.