David Hall has been with Revolution since 2006, giving him an unusually long view across the firm's growth from Revolution Growth and Ventures through launching Rise of the Rest in 2014, and he previously led corporate M&A and launched new publications at The Washington Post Company before joining venture capital. He serves on the National Venture Capital Association board and is a prominent advocate for investing outside traditional VC hubs, with a portfolio including companies like Hermeus, FreightWaves, and SparkCharge that focus on capital-intensive businesses in non-coastal markets.

• A strong commitment to startup ecosystems outside of Silicon Valley, largely through the Rise of the Rest initiative. He frequently travels to and highlights innovation in cities like Buffalo, Houston, and Baltimore to validate the thesis that high-growth companies can be built anywhere in the US, not just on the coasts.
• Deep engagement with diversity and inclusion in the venture capital landscape. He actively participates in events like Black Tech Week and the DMV BLCK VC Summit to support Black founders and investors, and shares personal reflections on cultural topics such as the importance of seeing Black male joy.
• Interest in companies building physical technology or infrastructure, often referred to as deep tech or hard tech. He celebrates portfolio wins in complex sectors, such as Hermeus in aerospace or SparkCharge in mobile EV charging, acknowledging the difficulty of building hardware compared to pure software.
• A pragmatic philosophy regarding company growth and stability. He prioritizes business fundamentals over buzz, explicitly sharing a hierarchy that places survival and revenue above growth and hype, suggesting a preference for founders who focus on sustainable operations.
• Attention to how government policy and macroeconomic events impact the startup ecosystem. He writes and shares advice on how founders can brace for federal government shutdowns and advocates for regional companies during banking crises like the SVB collapse to ensure they aren't overlooked.
• Public and enthusiastic support for portfolio founders and team members. He consistently amplifies news about team achievements, such as a colleague receiving recognition or a portfolio company like Sweetgreen going public, and isn't afraid to mix in lighthearted personal connections, like his son selling coffee products from a portfolio brand.