Profile Summary
Name: Ryan Hoover
Company: Weekend Fund
Position: Investor and Co-Founder
Key Roles: Founder of Product Hunt, Influencer
Professional Background
Ryan Hoover is a prominent figure in the tech and venture capital community. Known initially for founding Product Hunt, a platform for discovering new products, Ryan has since transitioned into a significant role as an investor with the Weekend Fund. He co-founded Weekend Fund with Vedika Jain, focusing on writing $100k-$300k checks into early-stage startups across consumer and B2B sectors.
Weekend Fund Overview
Website: [Weekend Fund](https://www.weekend.fund)
Focus: Early-stage investments in startups
Investment Range: $100k-$300k
Support Areas: Product, community building, and go-to-market (GTM) strategy
Milestones and Achievements
- Recent Fund Performance: Weekend Fund recently returned its first fund, achieving a 1x DPI.
- Ryan has helped build a Limited Partner (LP) collective of over 350 exceptional founders and operators, providing robust support to portfolio companies.
Notable Investments
- Rosebud AI: An AI-powered journal app for mental health, which has shown significant impact in user self-reflection and emotion management.
- Other portfolio companies include Postmates, Intercom, Calm, and Pipedrive, reflecting his keen eye for transformative technologies and strong market potential.
Professional Activities and Thought Leadership
Ryan Hoover maintains a consistent presence on professional networks like LinkedIn, where he shares insights and advice on venture capital and startup ecosystems. Some notable articles and posts include:
- "Non-obvious problems": Discussing the unique challenges faced by startups (Published on May 29, 2024).
- "Maybe you shouldn’t start a fund": An in-depth look at the considerations required before starting a venture fund (Published on November 1, 2023).
- "Weekend Fund's first fund return": Announcement and insights on the significant milestone of returning the first fund to LPs.
Relocation and Strategic Moves
Ryan announced a move to San Francisco in 2024, highlighting strategic advantages for him and his team in the Silicon Valley ecosystem:
- Article: "Why I'm moving to S.F." (Published on July 3, 2024)
Notable Published Works and Contributions
Ryan is an active writer, contributing a range of articles and posts about his experiences and insights in venture capital and startup ecosystems. His content often garners significant engagement, indicating his influence and respect within the industry:
- "Synthetic Ryan 2.0 is born" (Published on July 25, 2024)
- "Portfolio construction and how to model your returns" (Published on February 2, 2023)
Key Insights for Sales Background Research
- Reputation and Influence: Ryan Hoover is recognized as both an influencer and an effective investor, leveraging his extensive network and entrepreneurial background.
- Investment Focus: His primary areas of interest include early-stage startups with a strong emphasis on consumer and B2B sectors, providing both capital and strategic support.
- Community and Network: Building a robust community and network of LPs has been a cornerstone of his investment strategy, adding value to startups beyond financial investment.
- Content Engagement: Ryan uses platforms like LinkedIn to share strategic insights and trends that can serve as entry points for engagement during sales meetings.
Contact Information
LinkedIn: [Ryan Hoover's LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanrhoover)
Email: [ryan@weekend.fund](mailto:ryan@weekend.fund)
Ryan Hoover’s extensive background in product development, startup ecosystems, and venture investing, combined with his active engagement in thought leadership, makes him a valuable contact within the investment and tech community.
