Our Team

Brian Bell - Founder and Managing Partner

Brian has cultivated the firm into a formidable entity with thousands of investors and $20 million in AUM, spanning hundreds early-stage investments. With a rich background in tech at Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, where he notably launched the SageMaker AI Marketplace, Brian brings extensive experience in product development and AI. His financial and business acumen is rooted in a Finance degree from the University of Washington and an MBA from UC Berkeley, complemented by diverse roles from Boeing to Wall Street. Now based in Northern California, Brian balances his professional endeavors with family life, basketball, and hosting the Ignite Podcast, delving into conversations about the innovations that define our era.

Simon Hayhurst - General Partner

Simon has over 25 years of product leadership experience. As a 4-time Chief Product Officer, Simon has scaled AI companies from $2M to $500M ARR, led two successful exits (IPO and private equity sale), and managed acquisitions ranging from $10M to $150M. With deep expertise in corporate development and advising companies across industries, Simon brings a strategic perspective to scaling and transforming startups into market leaders.

Renata Bell - Operating Partner

Renata specializes in go-to-market strategy and growth acceleration. With over 20 years of experience, she has held leadership roles in marketing for high-growth startups and scaled multiple businesses to $30M+ in revenue. At LinkedIn, Renata led GTM for its largest product lines, including Talent Solutions, a $12B business. Renata’s expertise in building scalable growth engines and her expansive network make her a trusted advisor to early-stage founders aiming to achieve rapid market impact.

Kenneth Kelly - Principal

Kenneth Kelly is a venture builder and strategic investor with a track record of scaling companies from idea to market leadership. As Principal at Team Ignite Ventures, he has designed and executed growth strategies that accelerate customer acquisition, unlock multi-million-dollar revenues, and create new market categories. A former founder with deep expertise at the intersection of technology, capital, and scale, Kenneth has built and advised ventures that achieved sustained growth and successful exits. His ability to identify emerging opportunities early and drive rapid market impact makes him a trusted advisor to founders and investors aiming to transform high-potential startups into industry leaders.

Principals in Residence

  • Fahad Ahmed

    Co-founder and head of product at Wind.app, and has a strong track record in scaling startups. He previously co-founded Pathao, leading it to a $100M valuation, and has experience in engineering and design roles at Hackhouse and Chaldal. He specializes in AI, B2B SaaS, and fintech investments.

  • Sreedhar Radhakrishnan

    Sreedhar Radhakrishnan is a Software Engineer at Lacework, currently serving as a VC Investor in Residence at Team Ignite Ventures. He invests in applied AI, infrastructure, and software, leading investments in innovative startups such as Selfr, Arvist, and Gigmile, focusing on transformative technologies across multiple sectors.

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