We’re Proud to Announce Grant Gibson Has Been Promoted to Managing Partner

By Rob Weber

We're excited to announce that Great North Ventures has named Grant Gibson a Managing Partner. Since joining the firm in May 2023, Grant has taken on an expanding role across investing, firm operations, and portfolio support. His promotion recognizes those contributions and the leadership he brings to building Great North Ventures.

On a small team, you need people who wear a lot of hats and follow through. Grant has consistently stepped into whatever needs doing and helped us become a more effective firm. An attorney by training, Grant brings particular expertise to deal structuring and negotiation. His work helps Great North move quickly and lead investment rounds, working through complex issues alongside founders and co-investors.

Beyond helping with investing, Grant leads firm operations, including finance, marketing, and investor communications. He is also leading our efforts to make Great North Ventures an AI-native fund by using AI to automate routine work and improve how the firm operates.

My brother and co-founding partner Ryan Weber adds his comments: "We invest in founders using AI to change how industries operate, and we see an opportunity to apply that same thinking to our own firm. Grant is leading that effort, bringing together an understanding of our business and a willingness to rethink how the work gets done."

Both of us are proud of the fact that Grant has become an active contributor to Minnesota's startup and venture community. He co-founded MN:EVC, a professional group for emerging venture capital investors, and Next in the North, a non-profit dedicated to Minnesota startups and innovation.

Based on the east side of the Twin Cities and a self-proclaimed "East Side truther," Grant is especially invested in St. Paul's startup community. He founded Rise and Raise, a monthly gathering in St. Paul that brings founders and investors together to build relationships and strengthen the local startup community.

Through these activities, he has helped connect the ecosystem and bring greater attention to local companies and founders.

In addition, Gibson gives back to Minnesota's startup community through education and mentorship. He has served as a judge for the Minnesota Cup's High Tech division, as well as for eFest and the Fowler Business Concept Challenge at the University of St. Thomas. He also leads an ongoing angel-investor education series in partnership with Gopher Angels. Grant earned a JD degree in 2022 from the University of St. Thomas Law School in Minneapolis.

Please join us in congratulating Grant!

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We asked Grant to tell us his personal story for our blog, and here it is:

From Associate to Partner: My Journey at Great North Ventures

Finding my way to venture capital

Some of my earliest memories are of sweeping the factory floor of our family business late at night, climbing onto the roof to patch a leak, and watching family members wrestle with problems that had no easy answers. Moments like these showed me not only how fragile a business can feel, but also how much strength it takes to keep going.

Those early experiences shaped what I wanted for my own career. I knew I wanted a seat at the table where difficult business decisions were being made. I wasn't sure whether that meant being a founder, operator, advisor, or something else entirely. After undergrad, law school seemed like the most practical path toward that goal.

Law and venture investing have more in common than most people realize. Writing diligence reports and investment memos is much like drafting legal briefs. Preparing for an investment committee meeting can feel like preparing for litigation; you need to anticipate every question, know your material better than anyone else in the room, and be ready to think on your feet.

Ultimately, I knew I didn't want to spend my career practicing law. Finding my way into venture felt like a homecoming, bringing together my legal training and entrepreneurial instincts. I was once again surrounded by people building businesses and taking risks. Only this time, I have the opportunity to sit alongside them.

Growing at Great North Ventures

Working with Rob and Ryan has been an incredible opportunity. As successful entrepreneurs, they bring a unique perspective to venture investing, and they've shown me that action matters far more than words. I've always been an optimist, perhaps to a degree that drives Rob and Ryan crazy, but combining that optimism with a bias toward action has served me well.

One thing that still amazes me is the extent of Rob and Ryan's network. No matter where I travel, I seem to meet someone who knows one or both of them, and they always have something positive to say. Rob and Ryan have spent years generously giving their time, and it's clear those relationships weren't built by accident. I've tried to do the same by making time for people, sharing what I know, and looking for ways to help.

Since joining Great North Ventures as an Associate, I've worn many hats, from investing and community building to developing AI tools that improve how we operate. The team has always encouraged me to take on responsibility without waiting for a title to justify it, giving me the trust and freedom to pursue new ideas. I've embraced that opportunity by taking on whatever challenges come my way. I can't remember saying no to one yet.

On Becoming a Partner

Three and a half years after joining Great North Ventures as an Associate, I feel incredibly lucky to be stepping into this next chapter as a Partner. Rob and Ryan have built something special, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to help shape its future.

To Rob, Ryan, our investors, and portfolio founders, thank you for the trust you've placed in me and the opportunity to be part of what you're building.

To Professor Dennis Monroe, thank you for taking me under your wing during law school at St. Thomas. You taught me what it means to be a trusted business partner: come prepared, listen more than you speak, and understand where you can add value. Those lessons have stayed with me.

To Charlie O'Donnell, thank you for helping me find my footing early in my venture career. Your advice helped me recognize my strengths and understand how to put them to work and grow as an investor. To the MN:EVC group, thank you for the friendships, advice, and countless conversations over the last few years. I've learned a lot from each of you and feel lucky to be part of this group.

Looking Ahead

I'll be doubling down on bringing people together, both here in Minnesota and across the country. I want to continue building relationships, connecting with founders and investors, and telling the stories of people building great companies.

It's an incredible time to be building, and I'm excited to continue backing founders in Vertical AI and Embedded Finance.

If you're building in either of these areas, I'd love to hear what you're working on.