Profile banner
Rio Hodges

Rio Hodges

Early-stage VC at Antler (pre-seed, founder residency)

rio
San Francisco Bay Area
Joined October 2025
Favicon imageantler.co
Favicon imagelinkedin.com
Favicon imagex.com
Favicon imagethestartupmag.com

Network

8.6K connections
💰
Early Stage Investors
🤖
AI Founders & Builders
📈
Serial Founders & Exits
🔬
Deep Tech & Engineering
⚕️
Health Tech Innovators
🦌
Antler Leadership & Investment
🌍
Impact Ventures

Summary

Early-stage investor and residency operator: Rio focuses on inception-stage, pre-seed investing at Antler — sourcing founders, running in-person residency programming and operating local founder events and office hours to help founders get funded and accelerate early traction. antler+2
Community builder and startup commentator: Rio has published and contributed to founder-focused outlets (e.g., The Startup Magazine) and speaks on early-stage topics such as idea validation and category design, indicating active engagement in the startup community beyond investing. thestartupmag+1
Creative interest in photography: maintains an Unsplash profile and shares photographic work, suggesting a creative hobby outside of VC and startup programming. unsplash

Work

Education

Writing

How to Validate Your Startup Idea Using Category Design (podcast appearance)

September 1, 2023

Guest episode discussing early-stage idea validation, problem focus vs product, and pitching TAM — reflects perspective on early-stage company building and category design.

Favicon imagecategorythinkers.com

Contributions to The Startup Magazine

Authored pieces and contributed to The Startup Magazine on topics relevant to startups, early‑stage building and the founder ecosystem.

Favicon imagethestartupmag.com

Hobbies

Photography — maintains an Unsplash profile with landscape and travel photos. unsplash

Notes

MAMohidul Alamsaid
RHRio Hodges
has provided especially valuable support or resources to startups they've invested in.

Dec 3, 2025