Chris Rizik | CEO
Renaissance Venture Capital

Chris Rizik is the founder and managing partner of Renaissance Venture Capital (www.renvcf.com), a first-of-its-kind fund of funds that has become a national model for attracting capital to underserved regions and strategically bringing together the startup and major corporate communities. Chris is also the founder of SoulTracks.com, America’s most popular soul music online magazine. The success of the Renaissance model in Michigan has led to the creation of similar funds in Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin, establishing a richer national network of innovation connections and investing. Chris’s work has led to several awards, including the National Venture Capital Association Venture Vanguard Award, EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Crain’s Detroit Business Newsmaker of the Year, the Michigan Venture Capital Hall of Fame, and the Smart Business Dealmakers Hall of Fame.  Prior to Renaissance, Chris was a co-founder and partner in Michigan’s two largest venture capital investors, nanotechnology holding company Ardesta, LLC, and tech fund Avalon Technology Ventures, and received of four consecutive “Deal of the Year” awards from the Michigan Venture Capital Association.  Chris was also a senior partner with Dickinson Wright PLLC, one of the Midwest’s oldest law firms. He began his career as a CPA at PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Chris chairs the National Advisory Board for the University of Michigan Office of Innovation Partnerships, the technology transfer, licensing and startup arm of the nation’s largest public research university. Chris also chairs the Investment Committees of ID Ventures, the University of Michigan’s Accelerate Blue fund, and the Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan.  Chris also serves on the boards of Invest Detroit and Mount Elliott Cemetery Association, as well as on the advisory committees of several venture capital funds around the US.