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Vocation Capital
Vocation Capital is a New York-based single-family office founded by Ryan Himmel and John B. Hess in 2017, investing in venture, growth, and real estate.
Vocation Capital
Ryan Himmel founded Vocation Capital in 2017, drawing on capital accumulated from his prior role as CEO of BMPR Holding, a financial services firm, and his personal track record as an early-stage investor. John B. Hess, a descendant of the Hess Corporation oil fortune, joined as founding partner, bringing institutional energy wealth and a long history of direct investing. The firm operates as a single-family office from its New York headquarters, though it has not disclosed total AUM or professionals on staff. The firm's strategy spans multiple asset classes, including venture capital, growth equity, private credit, and real estate. In venture, Vocation Capital targets Series A and B rounds in enterprise software, fintech, and healthcare services, typically writing checks between $1M and $5M per deal. Known portfolio companies include Take Command (health benefits platform) and Pineapple (fintech platform). The firm has also participated in real estate investments in the New York metropolitan area through special-purpose vehicles. Geographically, its focus is primarily North America, with selective deals in Europe and Asia. Vocation Capital maintains a lean team structure, relying on its two founding principals and a small number of advisors. The firm does not operate additional offices. Adjacent vehicles include a philanthropic foundation in the Himmel name. In May 2025, Ryan Himmel sponsored a panel at the Sohn Investment Conference, where he discussed family office direct investing in healthcare technology (per Sohn Conference, May 2025). The firm's professional network includes relationships with Tiger 21 and YPO, though Himmel and Hess are not publicly confirmed members of those organizations. The firm's structural differentiator is its blend of operating-company experience and multi-generational wealth. Himmel built BMPR Holding from scratch, giving him a founder's perspective. Hess contributes the institutional discipline of a publicly traded company's founding family. Vocation Capital does not operate a blind-pool fund structure — each deal is committed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis, which gives the firm flexibility but also limits its ability to scale deployment quickly.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
2017
AUM
$100M–$500M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Principals
Ryan Himmel
Founder and Managing Partner
John B. Hess
Founding Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Vocation Capital?
Investment decisions are made jointly by Ryan Himmel, founder and managing partner, and John B. Hess, founding partner. Neither has disclosed a formal investment committee. Himmel brings operational experience from BMPR Holding, while Hess contributes multi-generational wealth and direct investing experience tied to the Hess family.
How does Vocation Capital source proprietary deal flow?
Vocation Capital sources deals primarily through the personal networks of Himmel and Hess, including relationships built through BMPR Holding, Hess Corporation connections, and participation in family office networks such as Tiger 21 and YPO. The firm does not maintain a formal venture capital fund or employ a deal-sourcing team.
Is Vocation Capital structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Vocation Capital is structured as a single-family office. It does not operate a closed-end fund or manage external capital. Each investment is made directly via the family's balance sheet, though co-investment opportunities are occasionally shared with other family offices.
Does Vocation Capital participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The firm primarily makes direct investments in companies and real estate. There is no public record of it committing to external venture or private equity funds. Its model mirrors a direct investing family office rather than a fund-of-funds or a fund allocator.
What investment stages does Vocation Capital typically target?
Vocation Capital targets early-stage venture (Series A and B rounds) and growth equity. It also pursues direct real estate investments. Check sizes range from $1M to $5M per deal, though it will occasionally co-invest in larger rounds alongside other family offices.
Which sectors does Vocation Capital explicitly avoid?
Vocation Capital has not publicly disclosed any exclusion lists. Its known investments are concentrated in fintech, healthcare services, enterprise software, and real estate. It does not appear to invest in energy or extractive industries, which may reflect the Hess family legacy.
What is Vocation Capital's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The firm co-invests alongside other family offices and occasionally with venture capital firms, but it does not serve as a lead investor in rounds. Co-investments are sourced through the principals' networks, not via a formal syndicate.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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