Will Coffield

Will Coffield is the co-founder and General Partner at Riot Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Los Angeles that specializes in investing in deep technology startups at the seed and Series B stages. Riot Ventures focuses on transformative technologies that aim to revolutionize traditional industries, particularly at the intersection of hardware and software.

Professional Background

Coffield has a robust background in venture capital, having spent over a decade in the industry. Before founding Riot Ventures in September 2017, he was a venture investor at Saturn Partners, LLC, and held various roles, including Director at the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge. His investment portfolio includes notable companies such as True Anomaly, Shield AI, and OpenEnvoy, among others.1246

Education

Coffield earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Economics from James Madison University.2

Focus and Philosophy

At Riot Ventures, Coffield emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs in the development of technology solutions. He believes that successful investments hinge on backing founders who possess deep insights into their target markets and customer dynamics.34 This approach is particularly relevant in sectors like defense technology, where he sees growing interest from the Department of Defense in collaborating with startups.1

Coffield's work is characterized by a commitment to supporting entrepreneurs who leverage deep technology to address complex challenges, positioning Riot Ventures as a key player in the venture capital landscape focused on innovation and practical applications of technology.5