Former President Donald Trump announced Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate on Monday, as he seeks to reclaim the presidency from Joe Biden.
Vance gained fame for his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” and had a successful career as a venture capitalist before transitioning to politics by winning a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2022.
Following his graduation from Yale Law School in 2013, Vance worked at Mithril Capital in San Francisco, a firm co-founded by Peter Thiel and Ajay Royan. Thiel, a prominent figure in politics and business, supported Vance’s Senate campaign, although he has indicated he will not be backing any Republicans in the 2024 election.
In 2017, Vance joined Revolution, a venture capital firm led by Steve Case, as a managing director. During his time there, he played a key role in launching Rise of the Rest, an initiative focused on investing in startups outside traditional tech hubs.
Vance later founded Narya Capital, a venture capital firm based in Cincinnati, with the aim of supporting startups in underserved areas. The firm raised significant funds from notable investors like Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and Eric Schmidt.
Since winning his Senate race, Vance has handed over control of Narya to co-founder Colin Greenspon. The firm is currently in the process of raising its second fund.
