Starting is easy. Scaling is ordinary.
But enduring - that’s extraordinary.
Staying power doesn’t come from raising capital. Innovative ideas become iconic companies through consistency. We’re here to help exceptional founders identify the rituals that will open that path.
And we’re also here to take the call. Always. For the highs and the lows, the personal or public. The quick question, the pending crisis, the dream about the future. We’re here for all of it. From the start.
Chris Howard
Founder & Managing Partner
Over the past 15 years, Chris Howard has invested in more than a dozen companies with $1B+ valuations - all at the seed stage. His investments include Figma, Flexport, Lattice, Pagerduty, Highspot, Convoy, Kong, and more. Prior to launching Ritual, Chris ran multiple market-leading funds as the founder of Fuel Capital and a principal at Ignition Partners.
Chris believes in the potential of founders - long before most people do. He then leverages his expertise to help propel their companies forward. He pulls from an accomplished career in advertising and marketing for brands such as Lexus and New Balance, and helps founders with early brand, positioning, and go-to-market.
In 2023, Chris was recognized as one of the top 25 seed investors in the world by Forbes’ Midas Seed List. Previously, Chris was included on Forbes’ Midas Brink List.
Chris graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Art. He received his MBA from the University of Washington, where he was a McGowan Scholar and the winner of the Venture Capital Investment Competition.
Operating Partners
We’ve seen time and again that companies that prioritize marketing and recruiting early are more likely to last. Tactics and best practices in these areas are crucial but not enough. Uncovering that unique story - one that deeply resonates with both customers and employees - is like magic for an early-stage company. And we like magic. Our Operating Partners collaborate with our founders to create the systems of rituals that will elevate their brands and scale their teams.
Get In Touch
Supporting extraordinary founders from the beginning is both our privilege and our passion. If you think we could be helpful, please reach out.