RULE 1 IS A VENTURE STUDIO
The capital & team to build your dream.
We design, fund, and build B2B SaaS businesses.
We are dedicated to co-creating entrepreneur-centric companies.
Entrepreneurship is one of life's most challenging and rewarding endeavors.
We empower you in your founder's journey by providing the guidance and resources required to be successful.
R1 is founder focused.
Our Partnering Process
We qualify entrepreneurs by their talent, grit, and dedication – not their idea.
Only after identifying an entrepreneur do we evaluate an idea or business.
In as little as 120 days go from an idea to paying customers.
You determine if Rule 1 and its Entrepreneur in Residence model would be a fit for you as an entrepreneur. You learn more about everything that Rule 1 has to offer.
If you agree that Rule 1 can benefit you in your entrepreneurial journey, we next identify, test, and modify your business or idea to ensure Product-Market fit.
Once a path forward is determined, we work at a blistering pace, using proven methodologies, to design and build a working prototype while identifying your first customers.
How Rule 1 is Different
Not all businesses should be backed by traditional venture capital.
Rule 1 is a Venture Studio that is founder-focused and aligned with entrepreneurs.
Rule 1 partners with founders to co-create businesses that scale.
Our Leaders
Our world-class leadership team has the criteria to make your dream a reality.
Combining years of entrepreneurial experience resulting in multiple successful exits.
Proven leaders with the expertise to guide you along the path to success.
Todd Ehrlich, CEO
Founded Kill Cliff, Triserv, BAMFi, FactorCloud, Güten Beer (2018 World Beer Cup Champion). Navy SEAL, Endeavor Outliers Entrepreneur and two time Inc. 500 CEO (#103 & #121) & Vet100 (#11), Navy SEAL Foundation Ambassador
Gary Buxton, COO
Navy F/A-18 Naval Flight Officer, McKinsey & Company consultant. U.S. Naval Academy Systems Engineer, Harvard Business School MBA
Nick Fraunfelder, CRO
Quantum Energy Partners (multi-billion PE fund) Revenue and Operations lead at Clockwise.MD, MDClarity, and PurpleCloud Technologies. Baylor BA, Claremont MA, USC MBA
Chris McNeil, VP, Finance
Earned degrees in Accounting and Business Economics from Georgia State University. Started career in a real estate startup, managing billions of dollars in purchase and refinance transactions. Later served in senior finance and accounting positions at four other startups before joining Rule 1
Callie McConnell, VP, Product
Product Management Leader with 10+ years fostering product growth for US based SaaS B2B tech startups. BA University of Georgia
Jorge Santibanez, VP, Engineering
Software architect with 11 years building applicant tracking systems, VMs, CRM, and logistics domains. Computer Science Engineer from Universidad de Santiago de Chile
David Traxler, Director, Sales
Sales and Motivating teams. Created and managed multi-million dollar IT projects with the VAR 100 and United States Military. Owner of Full Commission Restaurant. Bachelor of Accountancy and graduate studies in Contemporary Taxation. Ole Miss Football, 4 letters. Eagle Scout
Weaver Ellard, Director, Marketing
Built digital marketing teams from the ground up at NCR and QGenda. Marketing leader with a diverse background in demand generation, campaign strategy and data analytics. BS Marketing, Management, Berry College
Portfolio Companies
Interested in applying or learning?
Regardless of where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, we'd love to hear from you. Send a message with some basic information and we'll be in touch shortly.
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