Ryan J. Negri

I’m the Managing Director of the Iron Yard Ventures accelerator in Las Vegas!

I’m a Wisconsin-born tech entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor. Using my knack for finding solutions to difficult problems and a keen interest in technology, I have a unique vision that helps others identify, simplify and solve problems. I’ve always been passionate about solving problems and giving back to others and my community.

I grew up in Northern Wisconsin near a golf course. At 4, I opened up my own golf ball sales company and sold used golf balls to passing golfers. At 14 I purchased my first vehicle and have since owned 33 more! (I sold my car at the end of each summer, to buy a truck each winter.) My father owns his own business selling heavy machinery. Needless to say, I was groomed into a seasoned salesman by my senior year in HS.

I attended St. Cloud State University from 1999-2003. I played golf for SCSU (DII) from 2000-2002. During my sophomore year, frustrated with alternative-campus accommodations, I purchased my first home. To pay for school, I rented the extra rooms to a few of my friends. I ended up selling the home 3 years post-graduation – pre-market crash.

In 2006, I founded Negri Electronics with two credit cards, working from my girlfriend’s (now wife’s) apartment. I took the company from $0 to $53M in total revenue, ($18M in 2013) to exit Christmas Eve, 2013, without raising outside capital or taking on debt. During my time at Negri Electronics I worked in and managed every department from Accounting to Warehouse. Founders wear many hats; that extensive experience has helped me learn the most efficient and effective ways to create and scale companies (See: Laicos).

I co-founded Laicos in 2012 with my good friend Kyle, and set out to create a new concept called a Startup Studio. In a Studio, we develop ideas into products and products into companies. We developed close to 15 applications, and the majority of which were wholly owned by Laicos and ready to be spun out as their own entities. In 2016, instead of pursuing the startup studio model, I shifted our focus to a consultancy to continue to help companies grow and open myself up to other opportunities.

In April 2016, I joined Iron Yard Ventures as Managing Director of a new tech accelerator in Las Vegas.