About

About Greg Warnock

Greg Warnock is an entrepreneur, investor, and mentor with more than forty years of experience building, scaling, and guiding companies across a wide range of industries. He is the co-founder and managing director of Mercato Partners, a growth capital firm known for helping expansion-stage companies accelerate growth and achieve meaningful scale. Through Mercato’s disciplined governance, operator-led model, and connector-driven value-creation framework, Greg and his team work closely with founders to strengthen go-to-market strategies, expand leadership capacity, and open pathways into new markets with speed and confidence. Mercato’s portfolio spans technology, healthcare, consumer services, and other high-growth categories, with more than $5 billion in exits reported through 2020.

Greg is also the co-founder of Savory Funds, a highly regarded buyout and growth platform in the food and beverage sector. Savory provides emerging restaurant concepts with operational expertise, disciplined capital deployment, and immediate access to a deep operator ecosystem. Under Greg’s leadership, Savory has helped build some of the nation’s fastest-growing restaurant brands by improving unit economics, scaling multi-unit operations, optimizing supply-chain and site-selection strategies, and preserving culture during rapid expansion. The platform has become one of the most effective restaurant accelerators in the United States, enabling early-stage concepts to grow profitably, consistently, and at a national scale.

Earlier in his investment career, Greg co-founded vSpring Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on high-potential companies in the information technology and life sciences sectors. As Managing Director, he helped establish vSpring as one of the Rocky Mountain region’s most influential early-stage investors, backing transformative companies and mentoring founders through the complexities of building scalable businesses. vSpring later merged with Canopy Ventures to form Signal Peak Ventures, continuing the firm’s legacy of early-stage innovation.

Greg’s career also includes leadership in the public markets. He served as Chairman and CEO of Mercato Partners Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: MPRA), a publicly traded SPAC that he took public in 2023. Under his leadership, the SPAC completed its business combination with Nuvini Corporation, a SaaS acquirer headquartered in Brazil. The transaction expanded Greg’s global investment footprint and showcased his ability to lead complex, cross-border public-market transactions.

Founding Businesses and M&A Experience

Before transitioning into venture and growth capital, Greg spent the early decades of his career founding and operating companies in technology, consumer products, biotechnology, and marketing. He frequently served as a technologist-founder, building products, assembling teams, and guiding businesses from concept to commercial traction.

He also played a principal role in more than 20 mergers and acquisitions, gaining deep expertise in evaluating markets, executing sophisticated transactions, and managing companies through phases of strategic growth, transformation, and exit.

Entrepreneurship Education and Mentorship

In 2008, Greg founded Junto Partners, an entrepreneurship education initiative designed to equip emerging founders with the skills, resources, and mentorship necessary to navigate the challenges of building a business. Through Junto, he has mentored countless entrepreneurs, reinforcing his long-standing commitment to strengthening the entrepreneurial community.

Philanthropy and Community Leadership

Greg is the co-founder and former chairman of the Community Foundation of Utah, an organization dedicated to advancing philanthropic efforts throughout the state. He has been instrumental in supporting charitable initiatives focused on education, entrepreneurship, and community development, helping connect donors with the causes that create lasting impact.

Education

Greg earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Utah. He went on to complete both a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and a PhD in Entrepreneurship and Venture Finance at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. His academic focus complemented his practical experience as a founder and investor, strengthening the theoretical foundation that supports his work in venture finance, organizational leadership, and entrepreneurial strategy.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Greg has been recognized for his leadership, mentorship, and contributions to the business community. His honors include Utah Business Mentor of the Year, the Supporter of Entrepreneurship Award from Ernst & Young, and recognition as one of Utah Business’s Outstanding Directors, an award reserved for the state’s most impactful business leaders.

Personal Interests

Outside of his professional endeavors, Greg is deeply immersed in motorsports and outdoor pursuits. He enjoys collecting and restoring muscle cars and participates in car racing as both a hobby and a competitive challenge. He is a licensed airplane pilot and an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys boating, motorcycling, and paragliding. His passion for craftsmanship, precision, and adventure reflects the same energy and drive that have shaped his professional life.