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 the firm’s disciplined governance, operator-led model, and connector-driven value-creation framework, he 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 Partners’ portfolio spans technology, healthcare, consumer services, and other high-growth categories, with more than $5 billion in exits reported through 2020.

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Warnock is also the co-founder of Savory Funds, a buyout and growth platform focused on the food and beverage sector. Savory Funds provides emerging restaurant concepts with operational expertise, disciplined capital deployment, and access to an established operator ecosystem. Under his leadership, the platform has supported the development of fast-growing restaurant brands by improving unit economics, scaling multi-unit operations, refining supply chain systems, and strengthening site selection approaches. The focus has remained on preserving culture while enabling rapid expansion, allowing early-stage concepts to grow in a more structured and sustainable way.

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Earlier in his investment career, Greg co-founded vSpring Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on information technology and life sciences companies. As Managing Director, he helped position the firm as one of the more influential early-stage investors in the Rocky Mountain region. The firm backed a range of companies and worked closely with founders as they navigated early growth stages and scaling challenges. vSpring Capital later merged with Canopy Ventures to form Signal Peak Ventures, continuing its work in early-stage innovation investing.

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Greg also has experience in public markets leadership. 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. This transaction expanded his investment reach into cross-border markets and reflected his involvement in complex public-market structures and international business combinations.

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Founding Businesses and M&A Experience

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Before focusing fully on venture and growth capital, Greg spent the early part of his career founding and operating companies across technology, consumer products, biotechnology, and marketing. In these roles, he often served as a technologist-founder, building early products, forming teams, and guiding businesses from initial concept to commercial execution.

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Warnock also played a principal role in more than 20 mergers and acquisitions. This work included evaluating business opportunities, structuring transactions, and supporting companies through periods of transition and strategic growth. His experience in M&A contributed to his understanding of how businesses scale, consolidate, and reposition themselves in changing markets.

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Entrepreneurship Education and Mentorship

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In 2008, Greg Warnock founded Junto Partners, an entrepreneurship education initiative designed to support early-stage founders. The program focuses on practical guidance, peer learning, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of building and scaling companies. Through this initiative, he has worked with many founders to strengthen their operational thinking and decision-making during critical growth stages.

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Philanthropy and Community Leadership

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Greg is the co-founder and former chairman of the Community Foundation of Utah, an organization focused on advancing philanthropic efforts across the state. His involvement has supported initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, and community development. The foundation works to connect donors with programs and causes that aim to create long-term community impact.

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Education

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Greg earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Utah. He later completed 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 work supported his practical experience in company building, venture investing, and organizational leadership, helping him connect theory with real-world entrepreneurial practice.

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Awards and Recognition

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Throughout his career, Warnock has received recognition for leadership and contributions to the business and entrepreneurial 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. These acknowledgments reflect his involvement in mentoring founders and contributing to the broader business ecosystem.

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Personal Interests

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Outside of his professional work, he is involved in motorsports and outdoor activities. He collects and restores muscle cars and races them as a hobby and a competitive interest. He is also a licensed airplane pilot and enjoys boating, motorcycling, and paragliding. These interests reflect his focus on precision, discipline, and hands-on engagement in technical and high-skill activities.

Greg Warnock continues to work as an entrepreneur, investor, and mentor, focusing on building companies, supporting founders, and contributing to the growth of investment platforms and entrepreneurial ecosystems.