Ryan Graves

Overview

Ryan Graves is an American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the first employee and CEO of Uber Technologies Inc. He founded Saltwater, his family office, which focuses on scaling technology-enabled businesses with profit, purpose, and passion. The Saltwater portfolio includes companies like GPX, a logistics SaaS business, Mayven Studios, a software design and development firm, and Quillt Media, a content-to-commerce business. Graves serves on the board of directors for charity: water, Pachama Inc., and Metromile. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Miami University in Ohio. Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Graves worked at General Electric and CNA Insurance. In 2010, he joined Uber as its first employee, eventually becoming CEO and later SVP of Global Operations. He resigned from Uber's board in May 2019, a few weeks after its initial public offering. Graves resides in Kauai, Hawaii, with his wife and four sons. Graves' investment strategy focuses on technology-enabled businesses across various stages, from seed to late stage, with a particular emphasis on sectors such as logistics, media, software, and insurance. His approach combines financial growth with a commitment to purpose-driven initiatives, reflecting his belief in the intersection of profit and social impact.