Christopher L. Rizik is the Chief Executive Officer and Fund Manager of the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund. With two decades of experience in technology, finance and law, he has played a principal role in over 50 multi-million dollar venture capital transactions.
Chris most recently served as a co-founder, partner, and Board member of Ardesta, LLC, an industry accelerator dedicated to the development of microsystems and other small technologies. Previously, Chris served as a Managing Director of Avalon Investments, Inc., a $100 million Ann Arbor, Michigan-based venture capital firm targeted at investments in technology-oriented ventures. During his tenure at Avalon and Ardesta, he accepted four consecutive “Deal of the Year” awards from the Michigan Venture Capital Association.
Prior to joining Avalon, Chris was a senior partner with Dickinson Wright PLLC, one of the Midwest’s oldest law firms, where he led the Emerging Company department. He also passed the Certified Public Accounting examination and worked at PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Chris is also the founder of SoulTracks.com, America’s most popular soul music online magazine.
Chris is a member of the Executive Committee and serves as the Finance Chair of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. He also serves on the board and is the immediate past chair of NextEnergy, the State of Michigan’s advanced energy economic development organization, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Detroit Medical Center. Chris chairs the investment committee of the innovative First Step Fund, and also serves on the board of the Michigan Venture Capital Association and Leadership Detroit, and is a member of the advisory board of several venture capital funds. In early 2010, Chris was named by Crain’s Detroit Business magazine as one of its “Newsmakers of the Year” for his leadership role in the advancement of venture capital and entrepreneurship in Michigan, and is frequent lecturer and speaker.
Jeffrey Rinvelt is the Principal for the Fund. Jeff’s diverse background in venture capital and technology along with his experience working in various start-up ventures uniquely positions him for this role.
Jeff was previously part of Ardesta, where he was Director engaged in sourcing, evaluating, and conducting due diligence on investment opportunities, as well as monitoring and providing assistance to the companies in Ardesta’s portfolio. Prior to joining Ardesta, Jeff was a co-founder of GrapeVINE Technologies, providing Product Management and Marketing for their knowledge management product, eventually resulting in an acquisition by Sun Microsystems. Jeff was also part of the start-up team for MAXfunds.com, an Internet company providing complete coverage of the mutual fund industry, including hundreds of funds not available on any other site. In addition, Jeff spent five years with Ernst & Young’s Information Technology group as a senior consultant.