John Banta

President & Managing Director of the Blue Venture Funds and the President of the fund’s General Partner

President and Chairperson - Blue Venture Fund Fund I Board

envelope john@blueventurefund.com

John Banta is the President & Managing Director of the Blue Venture Funds and the President of the fund’s General Partner.

In this capacity he is responsible for maintaining relationships with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the operational success of the Fund, its portfolio companies, and for the generation of strategic and financial returns for participating Blue Plans. John has also been recognized as a member of the Global Corporate Venture Power List 100 since 2017. He is also responsible for oversight for the National Employee Benefits Administration, a $17B multi-employer benefits program serving over 100,000 members.

Prior to joining BVF, John served as CEO and managing director of IllinoisVentures, the premier seed and early-stage technology venture firm, which was consistently recognized as one of Entrepreneur’s Top 100 Venture Firms. He began his career with the investment banks Kidder Peabody and UBS.

John earned an M.B.A. in finance and statistics with high honors from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois. John serves or has served or observed on the Boards of numerous early and growth stage businesses and founded several as well. He also serves or has served on the Board of Directors of the Global Corporate Venture Leadership Society, the Innovation and Value Initiative, the National Alliance for Social Determinants of Health, the University of Maryland College of Pharmacy, the Illinois Venture Capital Association, and the Midwest Governors Association Advisory Council.