BUILD WITH US
In 1845, Texas didn't ask permission to become something great.
Neither do we.
1845 Ventures was built by founders, for founders — because we've lived every stage of the journey, from first pitch to exit. We've made the mistakes so you don't have to, and we've earned the conviction that the best companies aren't funded from the sidelines — they're built shoulder to shoulder.
We don't write checks and wish you luck. We co-found. We roll up our sleeves, take on real risk, and show up as true partners from day one — because that's what it means to build something worth building.
Texas has always been a place where outsized ambition meets stubborn resolve. That's the ethos we carry into every company we touch. We are builders first. Investors second.
We take on the few.
If that resonates — keep reading.
OUR FIRST INITIATIVE
THE
VENTURE
STUDIO
Where
experienced
operators
become
your
unfair
advantage.
Most venture firms fund companies. We build them.
The 1845 Venture Studio was born from a simple belief: the difference between a good idea and a great company is execution — and execution requires experience. Not advice from a distance. Not a board seat and a check. Real, hands-on partnership from operators who have been there before.
We embed ourselves into a small number of companies each year — working alongside founders to refine the model, build the team, navigate the hard decisions, and position each company for a successful exit. We don't take on many. We go deep on the ones we do.
Meet the companies we're building right now.
Optimus OS
Building the first verified wearable network for veterans–where identity, health data, and community converge
Our Block
Reimagining the neighborhood network–private, hyper-local communities designed for connection, trust, and commerce.
Noodleflow
Rebuilding financial operations for eCommerce SMBs–transforming fragmented post-sale workflows into real-time true cash flow insights.
NotaFi
Formalizing and modernizing seller finance–transforming fragmented, manual real estate transactions into a scalable financial infrastructure.
FOUNDING IS OUR TRADITION
PARTNER WITH US
We're building something bigger than a portfolio.We're building an ecosystem.
We partner with companies at different stages and in different ways — but the through-line is always the same: we show up. Whether you're a founder who's hit a ceiling, or an early-stage builder who doesn't yet know what you don't know — we've been there, and we know how to find the trail forward.
The best companies aren't built by lone founders — and they aren't built by passive investors writing checks from a distance. They're built by ecosystems. Tight networks of operators, capital, and hard-won experience all pulling in the same direction. That's what 1845 is assembling.
We're also growing our network of advisors and investors who share our builder's mentality. If you're an operator who wants to put hard-won experience to work — or an investor who understands that the most valuable thing you bring isn't just capital — there's a place for you here.
Every seat at this table comes with responsibility. No PASSES allowed.
We take on the few.
If that resonates — keep reading.
FOUNDING
IS
HARD.
WE
HAVE THE
SCARS
TO
PROVE IT.
YOUR
CO -
FOUNDERS
RYAN BROWN &
TREY BOWLES
Between them, Ryan and Trey have spent decades doing the hard work of building — founding companies, scaling teams, navigating exits, and shaping the entrepreneurial ecosystems that make it all possible. They've been operators, investors, mentors, and ecosystem builders. At the table - they've sat at every seat.
After 25 years of growing companies across the country, they came home to Texas to build to bring everything they've learned to the founders who are doing the same.
Two builders.
One mission.
All in.
CONNECTING
THE
DOTS
They say “your network is your net worth." At 1845, we've spent decades building one that proves it.
Our connections span industries — technology, real estate, finance, healthcare, media, and beyond. They reach across Texas, across the country, and across borders. And they aren't just names in a contact list — they're operators, decision-makers, and market leaders who move when we call.
For our portfolio companies, that means more than introductions. It means getting in the right rooms, in front of the right people, at the right moment. It means deal flow, distribution channels, strategic partnerships, and capital — unlocked faster than any founder could navigate alone.
A great idea in the right hands changes everything. We make sure our companies are always in the right hands. Join this Network, Reach out to us.
Our network
doesn't stop
at the state line.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
BLAZE THE TRAIL WITH US,
IT'S A WILD RIDE.
