Mercato Partners

We think Inc. Magazine said it best—investment firms should offer founders a helping hand, not just deep pockets. We couldn't agree more. In it's sixth year, Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Investors List is designed to be a resource for founders to find reliable equity and debt partners that will have their back when they need more than just capital. Based on interviews with founders and investor-backed entrepreneurs, we are honored to be named one of just 269 global investors with a successful track record of collaboration and helping founders outgrow the competition. View the full list here: https://lnkd.in/ebhzF2Xq

T-minus 3 weeks until our first Utah Tech Week event! We invite you to join us on Tuesday, January 28 as we explore a new age of American dynamism, and the transformative potential of deep tech to reshape the future of our country. Lead by panelists from 47G, Torus, BETA TECHNOLOGIES, and First In, we'll discuss navigating the challenges of deep tech commercialization, harnessing emerging technologies, and building ecosystems to fuel America’s future as a global innovation leader. Link to register is in the comments below.

AND WE’RE BACK! After taking time at the end of last year to relax and recharge, we couldn’t be more excited to buckle up and get moving in 2025. And while we’re not physically “on the move" this week—we’ll be up and in the air next week—we are excited to share one critical move we made as a firm in the second half of last year. Last August, Joe Kaiser began his transition to CEO of Mercato. After finalizing the transition in late Q4 and formally issuing a release last week, we thought the new year was a perfect time to say a few words about our new CEO: ---- If you know Joe Kaiser, it’s safe to say that you’ve had the pleasure of meeting a true mid-westerner.  Even if you catch him on a day where he is not wearing one of his famous snap button shirts, he is always sporting a soft smile, kind eyes, and a healthy dose of enthusiam (perhaps from all those cups of coffee).  To be honest, we don’t think there are many like Joe. And the fact that he has chosen Mercato as his VC home does not escape us.  We are lucky. Full stop. Joe is the type of investor that could go anywhere. He is a great partner to his founders and chief executives, a considerate yet commanding leader, and one of the hardest workers we’ve ever met. Him taking on the role as our CEO means so much more than we can possibly convey, but suffice it to say it represents an exciting chapter for the firm. Congratulations, Joe. Onwards and upwards!

A Slack message I sent to Paytient product, design and engineering teammates who helped build the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. *** Tonight, at midnight, millions of Americans will gain access to healthcare in a way they've never had before—because of what you've created. It’s like standing on the summit of an unclimbed mountain, looking out at a view no one has seen before. That moment, that feeling, is something you’ll carry with you forever. What you've built will touch lives in ways we can't fully imagine right now. It’ll change the way people live, it will make them healthier, and it will give them a better future. But remember, progress takes time. It won't happen all at once. The world doesn't stand still or spin backwards —it moves forward, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, sometimes in ways that we don't understand, but it always moves forward. And what you've created today will grow, evolve, and become something far larger than we can even see right now. Thank you to our friends, teammates and investors who have helped along the way to make this moment possible. Joe Kaiser Lachy Groom Niki Pezeshki Alexa von Tobel Charlotte Ross Nimi Katragadda Thorsten Wirkes Darius Chehrzad Trent Haywood, MD, JD Dennis Grunt Andy Cloyd Brian Matthews Eric Ong Barry Sandweiss Bill Turpin Ali Hamed Kyle Kiser Evan Schnur Vinny Pujji J.R. Clark Daniel Lynn Laura Cave Bryan Bliven David Smith Uswah Shabbir Alexandra Thomas Anna Rajaratnam Farah Khan Jordan Stone Jeff Pohler RPh Jodi Hubler Dayne Williams Brandon Blanchard Joe Gabler Mike Rahman Dan Bernstein Larry Zarin Holly Benson

Congratulations, Bill Snyder, on the incredibly well deserved honor! 👏👏👏

While the holidays still stand between us and Utah Tech Week, it's never too early to get your schedule situated. On Tuesday, January 28, join us and 47G as we explore the transformative potential of deep tech and its pivotal role in the re-industrialization of America. To learn more about the panel and register, click the link below. https://lnkd.in/gptQpckf

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🛫 We're in search of warmer weather this week! You can find Josh Christensen in and around L.A. Wednesday through Friday as he makes his way across the valley and down the coast meeting with founders and fellow funders. If you want to catch us on our last SoCal trip before yearend, comment below to schedule time to meet up.

Mark Douglas (left) and Ryan Reynolds (right) stun in Inc. Magazine’s Best in Business cover.