Ford Johnstone

Early-stage VC focus: Ford currently works as an Associate at Chicago Ventures (joined May 2025) and is active in evaluating and supporting early-stage startups; he is listed on the firm's public team page and appears in deal/investor activity for small, deep-tech / grid / energy-related startups like Magnefy. chicagoventures+2

Broad finance background across research, banking, and credit: Ford progressed from equity research (Susquehanna) to investment banking at Baird (analyst → associate) and then to opportunistic / credit investing at Victory Park before moving into VC — a trajectory that combines modeling and transaction execution experience with later-stage investing sensibilities. theorg+2

Active angel / co-investor participation: public investor and co-investor listings (e.g., Magnefy funding items and co-investor summaries for energy/infra deals) indicate participation in early-stage financings alongside other institutional and angel investors. crunchbase+1

Student-athlete and regional roots: Ford is from the Lake Forest, Illinois area (Lake Forest Academy alumnus) and played varsity lacrosse at Swarthmore College, indicating sustained involvement in team sports during his education. constantcontact+1