Chris Rizik

CEO and Fund Manager , Renaissance Venture Capital Fund

Panelist – Wednesday, April 6th 2:00pm – Funding Innovation: Investing in Talent

Christopher L. Rizik is the Chief Executive Officer and Fund Manager of the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund. With two decades of experience in technology, finance and law, he has played a principal role in over 50 multi-million dollar venture capital transactions.

Chris most recently served as a co-founder, partner, and Board member of Ardesta, LLC, an industry accelerator dedicated to the development of microsystems and other small technologies. Previously, Chris served as a Managing Director of Avalon Investments, Inc., a $100 million Ann Arbor, Michigan-based venture capital firm targeted at investments in technology-oriented ventures. During his tenure at Avalon, he accepted on behalf of the firm three consecutive “Deal of the Year” awards from the Michigan Venture Capital Association.

Prior to joining Avalon, Chris was a senior partner with Dickinson Wright PLLC, one of the Midwest’s oldest law firms, where he led the Emerging Company department. He also passed the Certified Public Accounting examination and worked at PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

Chris Rizik is the Chairman of NextEnergy, the public/private economic development organization formed by the State of Michigan to advance alternative energy technologies in the state. He is also a board member and investment committee Chairman of the First Step Fund, an innovative fund that invests in emerging Michigan companies.  Chris is the founder and publisher of SoulTracks.com, the most popular online soul music magazine in the U.S., and also serves on the boards of various technology companies as well as other community, charitable and economic development organizations. In early 2010, Chris was named a “Newsmaker of the Year” by Crain’s Detroit Business magazine for his leadership role in the venture capital and innovation communities