NASHVILLE-based Ryan Caradonna MBA leads newly formed Collective Ventures LLC, which uses special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to facilitate investments in Seed- to Series A-stage businesses.
Collective Ventures was registered in Tennessee three weeks ago and operates in-line with a license partnership with Torch Collective LLC, the six-month-old Nashville club that caters to "high-caliber individuals who build, fund and grow businesses" -- preferably ventures with industry-disrupting impact.
Collective Ventures invites qualified investors to participate in special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that are focused on vetted targets that prove attractive to high net-worth investors and other accredited members within the Torch Collective "ecosystem."
Caradonna told VNC that Collective Ventures is currently sector agnostic. He models SPVs with $250-$300K each to "top off" Seed-to-Series-A rounds.
Toward such ends, Caradonna said he's in "constant communications with general partners, founders and other co-investors to source A+ deals."
Collective Ventures' outside advisors include attorney Chris Sloan of Baker Donelson and Kevin Roddey at PinnacleBank.
Siblings at work: Torch Collective was registered with the State of Tennessee on April 1 this year, showing Ryan Cardonna, 32, as its registered agent. In September, Collective Ventures LLC was registered with Tennessee by his brother, Aaron Caradonna JD, age 36.
The brothers are also, respectively, fulltime COO and general counsel within Huntsville-based iXpressGenes Inc.
"iXpressGenes revolutionizes early detection to prevent PTSD, anxiety, and depression, modernizing mental health care with a diagnostic-aid biomarker research technology. iXpressGenes provides a simple blood test that identifies autoimmune indicators before these conditions develop, serving healthcare clinics, veterans, first responders, and all survivors of trauma," according to a LinkedIn post.
Previously, the brothers founded and operated for nearly four years their EQTickets, a sports, entertainment and events ticket provider with a substantial social network function.
Their EQtix raised $2MM from Los Angeles-based Sage Venture Partners, before selling on undisclosed terms toTix4Cause (4Cause LLC).
Read about the brothers' business careers in Techcrunch, WBRC, and Huntsville Business Journal.
The impetus for the Torch Collective membership organization was provided mainly by VC and angel investor Joe Maxwell, who is also founder and managing partner of one of the nation's more prominent early- to growth-stage fintech investment firms, FINTOP Capital.
Maxwell, 57, told VNC there are 35 co-founders (including Ryan Caradonna) of Torch Collective, which has roughly 180 individual members.
Torch Collective promises to present enrolled members with deal opportunities, speakers, dinner and events, member directory, job board, vetted service provider list, industry cohorts, forums and what one member describes as "authentic, high-value connections."
The epicenter of Torch Collective is Glasshaus, the Maxwell Family-owned multi-purpose venue at 483 Craighead St. (37204), near GEODIS stadium in Nashville's Berry Hill area.
Glasshaus includes a restaurant-cafe, a glass-blowing studio, and Maxwell Gallery LLC, the latter formed in 2023 and curated by Juliana Hammond Maxwell.
Maxwell Gallery and Nashville Glasshaus are helping Nashville Zoo raise funds through a special event, the evening of Oct. 23. Details.
Ryan Caradonna and his bride Rachel Vetter Caradonna reside in Davidson County. VNC
.last edited 1212 11 October 2025
