Patrick Riley serves as both CEO of GAN, which oversees a global network of independent accelerators, and Co-founder and Managing Partner of GAN Ventures, giving him a dual perspective as both operator and investor. He brings an unusually cross-functional background from leading operations at the American Red Cross and running West Coast sales for a Techstars-backed company, and is known for his focus on founders' mental health support and belief in building long-term trust through consistent founder updates rather than one-off pitches.

• Advocates for inclusive product design and marketing. Believes that intentionally building and marketing products for diverse demographics is crucial for a company to succeed and resonate. Offered Salesforce as a prime example of doing this right by establishing dedicated roles for inclusive messaging, and frequently challenges founders to ask how their current products might inadvertently exclude potential users.
• Focuses heavily on the startup accelerator ecosystem and enterprise partnerships. Deeply involved with organizations that support founders, frequently sharing comprehensive data and reports on accelerator trends. Highlighted a virtual bootcamp built alongside LIFT Labs designed specifically to teach early stage founders how to scale their businesses by securing enterprise partnerships.
• Prioritizes workplace wellbeing and healthy conflict resolution. Emphasizes the human element of running a business, acknowledging that team disagreements are inevitable and must be handled constructively. Shared that their own team created a specific manifesto to guide them through interpersonal difficulties, and regularly raises awareness about the negative impacts of remote work stress, sleep deprivation, and technology overuse on professionals.