RILEY CAPITAL
Investing in Carolina Healthcare Innovation
About Us
Riley Capital backs early-stage healthcare ventures emerging from academic medical centers and research universities across the Carolinas. We focus on low–regulatory friction technologies and services, providing pre-seed capital, structured company formation, and hands-on guidance to help students, faculty, and clinicians spin out and scale new healthcare companies.
Investment Criteria
Sector
Healthcare technology and healthcare services
Stage
Pre-seed / company formation
Geography
Carolinas-based academic medical centers and research universities
Low Regulatory Friction
We prioritize healthcare solutions that avoid lengthy FDA pathways allowing for faster commercialization and lower capital needs
Initial Check Size
$50,000–$500,000
Investment Structure
Convertible Note or Preferred Stock
Meet the Team
Managing Partner
Clay Johnson
Clay combines operational startup experience with venture investing. He was an early employee of ClubUp (acquired by Troon Golf), co-founded the WSPR angel fund, and served as an Investment Associate with SCRA, where he sourced and supported high-growth startups across South Carolina. Clay leads venture formation, founder support, diligence, and ecosystem partnerships.
Board Member & Investor
Todd Johnson
Todd brings more than two decades of experience founding, scaling, and investing in early-stage healthcare ventures. His background includes leading HealthTech Corp. (merged with MedCath and later sold to KKR and Welsh Carson) and co-founding KeraNetics, a regenerative medicine spinout from Wake Forest. Todd provides deep expertise in healthcare operations, innovation translation, and early-stage company building.
Board Member & Advisor
Hal Eason
Hal Eason is a serial entrepreneur and investor whose ventures have included biotech startups, software companies, and a rental real estate business. He has a passion for coaching and developing entrepreneurs and emerging leaders. He holds an M.B.A. with High Distinction from Harvard Business School, a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University.