Ryan Gembala is an accomplished pre-seed and seed stage technology investor with a diverse background spanning venture capital, corporate development, and non-profit management. He is the founder of Pathbreaker Ventures, where he focuses on emerging areas of technology such as AI/ML, deep learning, computer vision, virtual reality, applied hardware, and infrastructure technologies across security, video, messaging, and product design. Prior to starting Pathbreaker, Ryan was a deal lead on the corporate development team at Facebook, where he worked closely with product and engineering teams to identify and execute acquisitions in pursuit of Facebook's mission. During his time at Facebook, Ryan played a critical role in acquiring companies such as Oculus, PrivateCore, LiveRail, Teehan Lax, and NimbleVR.

Ryan began his career in venture capital with Azure Capital, an early stage venture capital firm with $750 million under management. In addition to his investing responsibilities, Ryan also worked in operating roles within portfolio companies, notably as VP of Business Development & Partnerships at Telly, the video discovery & content network, and at Convercent, the SAAS leader in employee governance, risk, and compliance. Ryan also co-founded H.E.R.O. for Children, the first non-profit focused on quality of life care for children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Through his vast professional experience and diverse skillset, Ryan has developed a deep understanding of the startup landscape and is passionate about supporting and guiding the next generation of technology entrepreneurs. Ryan earned his MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. He is an avid traveler and enjoys exploring new topics, countries, and foods.