Astoria Growth Partners
Prabhu Suresh
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
My passion for owning and operating a mission-critical business is rooted in family values, shaped by global experiences, and fueled by years of hands-on exploration. Born in Japan and raised by immigrant entrepreneurs who built a technology services business in Japan and India, I developed an early respect for grit, resilience, and resourcefulness. These qualities will continue to guide my approach as I look to steward and grow a founder’s legacy.
Professionally, my background blends engineering, strategy, and investing. I began my career as a software engineer at Apple, working on iPhone performance and battery optimization in partnership with major customers. That role instilled the importance of accountability, cross-functional leadership, and building trust under pressure. Wanting to deepen my ability to operationalize and improve businesses at scale, I joined McKinsey & Company, where I advised Fortune 500 and private equity clients across software, telecom, healthcare, and insurance. The work spanned operational and AI transformations, vendor strategy, and growth initiatives, sharpening my ability to solve complex problems while aligning diverse stakeholders.
Entrepreneurship has always been a central thread. I co-founded QART Inc., a logistics startup inspired by my experiences bridging the U.S. and India, and later launched EverPresent Ventures, investing in capital-efficient businesses modernizing legacy industries. Along the way, I have also backed and advised startups ranging from consumer brands to AI-driven software platforms.
Outside of work, I live in New York with my wife and draw inspiration from our families’ multi-generational entrepreneurial backgrounds in technology, real estate, and logistics. I am also a passionate coffee aficionado and find energy in time with family and friends, outdoor activities like skiing and hiking, and the occasional round of golf.
Prabhu holds a JD-MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UC San Diego.
Ryan Holler
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
I firmly believe small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and entrepreneurs are the real doers and builders. As an investment banker, I was fortunate to work with outstanding founders and entrepreneurs who entrusted me to help them sell their companies and life’s work. As I built close relationships with these clients, I came to admire their resilience, passion, and outstanding teams and businesses they had spent their entire lives building. I was inspired to get back to leading teams, build something enduring, and ultimately follow in their footsteps by launching my own entrepreneurial venture, Astoria Growth Partners.
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I was born and raised in the suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota with my parents and older sister. My sister has five children, who I love to spoil and refer to me as the fun uncle. My older sister and her husband run two small businesses and were my initial exposure to a family-owned business.
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Growing up, my parents took every opportunity to instill in me the value of hard work, persistence, and teamwork. They graciously drove me to countless hockey, football, and baseball practices. Being a member of a team became a part of my identity, which influenced my decision to attend the Air Force Academy for college. My experiences at the Academy further refined the character, teamwork, and discipline my parents originally instilled in me.
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After college, I became a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Air Force, which took me all over the world. The Air Force gave me a deep appreciation for the challenge and responsibility of leading a team. I later joined Piper Sandler’s investment banking team where I had the opportunity to guide entrepreneurs and founders through the fragile journey of selling their companies.
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Faith and family are the most important aspects of my life. I’m an active member and volunteer at my local church. Away from church and Astoria Growth, you’ll find me at a workout class at my neighborhood gym, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Minnesota Wild, searching for my golf ball on the course, or trying to find the perfect IPA.
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Ryan holds an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, a M.S. in Analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Economics from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Our Partnership
We met by chance — randomly paired as roommates on a pre-business school trip to Nashville. The catch? For three days, we weren’t allowed to talk about our jobs, where we grew up, or whether we were married. What started as an unusual rule led to genuine conversations and an unlikely friendship, despite having almost nothing in common on paper.
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Over the next two years, we traveled together, met each other’s families, and talked endlessly about entrepreneurship. Somewhere between Tokyo and Bangalore, the idea for Astoria Growth Partners took shape, a firm built on trust, friendship, and a shared belief that good businesses deserve good stewards.