Jim Ryan Named Venture Capital Journal Rising Star

Venture Capital Journal has recognized Palo Alto partner Jim Ryan as a 2026 Rising Star, recognizing professionals under the age of 40 who are making their mark in the venture capital industry.

As a member of MoFo’s Emerging Companies + Venture Capital Group, Jim advises venture capital and growth equity firms in their most significant and challenging investment transactions. He represents financial and strategic investors as they deploy capital across the technology and life sciences industries, including hardware infrastructure, fintech, robotics, and enterprise analytics. On the company side, Jim advises technology and life sciences startups throughout their life cycle, from formation to capital raising to exit. 

Beyond his deal work, Jim serves as the startup columnist for The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law and as lead editor of MoFo’s Ask a MoFo series, where he decodes board governance, deal mechanics, and venture structures for founders and investors.

By bridging traditional venture, corporate investment, and deep-tech innovation across the globe, Jim has become one of Silicon Valley’s defining deal lawyers of the scale-up era—someone who not only closes rounds but helps shape how global investors and emerging companies can combine to build the next era defining companies.

Each year, Venture Capital Journal singles out leading dealmakers, investor relations professionals, attorneys, and others who made a measurable impact and provided leadership in the past year.

See Venture Capital Journal’s full list of its 2026 Rising Stars on the publication’s website. (Subscription may be required.)