Pete Wilkins: Managing Director of Hyde Park Angels
Season 2, Episode 14, Apr 20, 2021, 11:00 AM
Pete Wilkins is a purpose-driven leader committed to creating a positive impact in the world. As a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, board member, and advisor, he has worked with some of the world’s best entrepreneurs and top venture capital firms to help purposefully grow their companies from seed investment into industry leaders.
Before he was thirty, he was a critical part of two technology startups that sold and IPO’d for more than $2.8 billion. He later went on to lead the turnaround of a medical education company from record losses to record profits and built one of the premier online physician education communities, which was followed by starting a double-bottom line company focused on college attainment for Latino families. Not every step was successful, but they were all purposeful.
Today, Pete leads HPA, one of the most active and successful early-stage venture investor groups in the country. He and his firm take a people-first approach—they purposefully invest in human and financial capital in entrepreneurs—to help them build successful businesses and ultimately realize their dreams.
Pete is also the soon to be author of Purpose First Entrepreneur, which takes key principles to help others live more purposefully, capitalize on their purpose, and turn it into a thriving business to create measurable outcomes in everyday life.
Pete is also involved in the World Business Chicago ChicagoNext Leadership Council, Future Founders, and P33, a bold initiative to make Chicago a global technology leader. In recognition of his contributions, Pete has been named one of the Top 100 Chicago Innovators by Chicago Tribune, 50 on Fire by ChicagoInno, the winner of Illinois Technology Association CityLIGHTS Industry Champion Award and the Chicago Innovation Award. He also frequently speaks and writes about investing in people and organizations for Forbes, VentureBeat, and Thrive Global.
Before he was thirty, he was a critical part of two technology startups that sold and IPO’d for more than $2.8 billion. He later went on to lead the turnaround of a medical education company from record losses to record profits and built one of the premier online physician education communities, which was followed by starting a double-bottom line company focused on college attainment for Latino families. Not every step was successful, but they were all purposeful.
Today, Pete leads HPA, one of the most active and successful early-stage venture investor groups in the country. He and his firm take a people-first approach—they purposefully invest in human and financial capital in entrepreneurs—to help them build successful businesses and ultimately realize their dreams.
Pete is also the soon to be author of Purpose First Entrepreneur, which takes key principles to help others live more purposefully, capitalize on their purpose, and turn it into a thriving business to create measurable outcomes in everyday life.
Pete is also involved in the World Business Chicago ChicagoNext Leadership Council, Future Founders, and P33, a bold initiative to make Chicago a global technology leader. In recognition of his contributions, Pete has been named one of the Top 100 Chicago Innovators by Chicago Tribune, 50 on Fire by ChicagoInno, the winner of Illinois Technology Association CityLIGHTS Industry Champion Award and the Chicago Innovation Award. He also frequently speaks and writes about investing in people and organizations for Forbes, VentureBeat, and Thrive Global.