Background
Rick has been named to the Forbes’ Midas List as one of the world’s top venture capitalists for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, has received similar distinctions from CB Insights, Business Insider, and the New York Times, and is a regular contributor on CNBC.
Before founding FirstMark, Rick was an entrepreneur and founder of First Advantage (NASDAQ: FADV), which he helped grow and sell to First American (NYSE: FAF). He holds a B.S. from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Recognized as a Top VC
Rick Heitzmann has been named to the Forbes Midas List—a list representing the pinnacle of technology investors—for five years in a row. In 2024, Rick was #23 on the list of 100, an impressive testament to over two decades of venture investing and committed stewardship of the New York technology ecosystem.
In addition to the Midas List, Rick has been similarly recognized by CB Insights, Insider, and the New York Times as one of the world's top VCs.
High Conviction Early Investor
Rick's uncanny ability to take the longest view in the room and recognize future greatness in entrepreneurs has led to him taking large, early bets on iconic companies like Pinterest, Riot Games (maker of League of Legends), Ro, and more.
"Rick believed in and invested in us before we even had a product. The support we got from Rick and FirstMark was absolutely key to our success at Pinterest."
- Ben Silbermann, Cofounder & CEO, Pinterest
Trusted Partner to Founders
Rick's deep expertise in company-building at all stages with companies like Airbnb, DraftKings, Upwork, Ro, and Discord, has led him to become a trusted advisor to Founders and Executives at the most important companies in technology and finance.
Pictured: Rick Heitzmann [Left], Zach Reitano, Founder of Ro [Right]