Entrepreneur | Investor | Mentor | Professor | ExecutiveEntrepreneur: Co-founder of several ventures leading to high-multiple exits.Investor: Active angel investor having directly invested in scores of new and mature ventures as well as hundreds more through investment funds. IMPORTANT: I only invest in U.S. entities. Please do not solicit me for investment in any entity that is outside the U.S.Mentor: Give much time to mentor startup entrepreneurs, having mentored thousands.Professor: Teach entrepreneurship (lean startup) at leading universities.Executive: C-level executive with substantial early-stage experience. High premium on Internet, software, and lean startup. Focus has been on advertising and business services. Technically adept. Programmed business solutions before turning full-time attention to management.Specialties: Accelerators, Advertising, Budgeting, Business policy and strategy, Business-to-business marketing, Cash management, Consulting, Corporate Strategy, Customer service, Database, Database: concepts, eBusiness, Electronic commerce, Entrepreneurial finance, Entrepreneurship, Family-owned business, Internet - B2B & B2C, Lean Startup, Management: consulting, Personal selling and sales management, Social entrepreneurship, Strategic alliances, Technology: impact on people at work.
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Founder And CeoStartup Ignition AcademyProvo, Ut, Us
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Managing PartnerStartup Ignition Ventures Aug 2022 - PresentStartup Ignition Ventures is a pre-seed fund that invests as a "first check" into promising startups led by great teams with great ideas and a validated business model. -
Ceo / FounderStartup Ignition May 2015 - PresentLehi, Ut, UsStartup Ignition is a 3-month (starts with a 3-day in-class experience following by 3 months of prioritized mentoring) short-term, intensive startup entrepreneur bootcamp, including actual implementation of learned tools and skills, that prepares entrepreneurs, founders, and teams to properly launch a company and take the right steps towards mitigating risk and increasing success. We enable our students by removing the fluff from a traditional 4-year degree, or other out-dated programs, and delivering an intense and impactful results-driven curriculum. -
AdvisorBaton - Pest Control & Wildlife Referrals Jun 2022 - Present -
AdvisorLuminous Dec 2021 - PresentLehi, Ut, Us -
AdvisorCardagraph Dec 2019 - PresentLehi, Utah, Us -
Senior AdvisorOpiniion Inc. 2017 - PresentLindon, Utah, Us -
Founder With Center For Entrepreneurship & TechnologyBrigham Young University 2000 - PresentProvo, Ut, Us -
Associate ProfessorBrigham Young University Sep 2001 - Aug 2013Provo, Ut, UsTeaching courses in eBusiness, entrepreneurship, and management consulting. Develop as Associate Director three special centers: Centers for (1) eBusiness, (2) Entrepreneurship, and (3) Economic Self-Reliance. Special assignments as requested. -
PresidentFirststep Advisers, Inc. 2004 - PresentConsulting engagements in the areas of start-up and emerging ventures, Internet, software, high tech, and other verticals.
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ManagerFirststep Capital, Llc 2004 - PresentVenture and Private Equity
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ManagerFirststep Venture Debt, Llc 2004 - PresentDebt Investments
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ManagerFirststep Property, Llc 2004 - PresentReal Estate Investments
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InvestorMercato Partners 2008 - PresentSalt Lake City, Utah, Us -
Angel Panel MemberFundersclub 2013 - PresentSan Francisco, Ca, Us -
InvestorY Combinator W13 (Accelerate Fundersclub I) 2013 - Present
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InvestorKickstart Seed Fund 2012 - PresentCottonwood Heights, Utah, Us -
InvestorPeak Venture Capital (Peak Ventures) 2014 - PresentProvo, Utah, Us -
InvestorTranscriptic 2012 - Present
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Investor & AdvisorThe World Table 2015 - Present
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AdvisorThe World Table Oct 2014 - Present
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InvestorRrs & Company 2012 - PresentTempe, Us -
Senior Advisory Board MemberSolutionz Innovations, Llc 2015 - PresentTampa, Florida, Us -
InvestorAlianza, Inc. 2005 - PresentPleasant Grove, Utah, Us -
InvestorGrasswire 2014 - Present
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AdvisorXolights Oct 2011 - PresentUsServing on the advisory board. -
InvestorCityspark Oct 2012 - Present
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AdvisorAlkemy Marketing Feb 2014 - PresentLehi, Utah, Us -
InvestorFindproz Jan 2012 - Present
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InvestorBrandwatch Technologies 2000 - PresentPortland, Or, Us -
Co-Chairman Of The BoardBrandwatch Technologies 2001 - 2002Portland, Or, Us -
InvestorTalespring 2010 - Present
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Investor & AdvisorForeup Golf 2011 - Mar 2021Pleasant Grove, Utah, Us -
Advisory Board MemberSxsw 2016 - Dec 2020Austin, Tx, UsAssist SXSW with Startup Village, including finding speakers, judging entrants, etc. I am also a workshop presenter. -
Advisory Board MemberCulinary Crafts Mar 2015 - Dec 2020
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Advisory Board MemberProperty Management Inc. 2015 - Dec 2020Lehi, Utah, Us -
Advisory Board MemberPura Scents 2015 - Dec 2020Orem, Utah, UsA hot "Internet of Things" (IoT) consumer product for the home fragrance and essential oils market. -
JudgeThe Stevie Awards 2014 - Dec 2020Fairfax, Va, UsThe International Business Awards; http://www.stevieawards.com/iba -
AdvisorRoute 2018 - 2020Lehi, Utah, Us -
InvestorDomo, Inc. 2010 - 2020American Fork, Ut, Us -
Ceo / Co-FounderDifuon Jun 2018 - Dec 2018Difuon is a decentralized edge/fog platform.
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InvestorPeak Capital Partners 2013 - 2018Provo, Utah, Us -
ConsultantAluvii Nov 2014 - Dec 2017
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InvestorBridge Investment Group Partners, Llc 2010 - 2017
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Limited PartnerSundance Debt Partners Feb 2015 - Dec 2016
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Investor & AdvisorStudio Design Sep 2013 - Dec 2016
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InvestorMillenniata Sep 2012 - Dec 2016
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InvestorTute Genomics Aug 2013 - Oct 2016Salt Lake City, Utah, Us -
Advisor And Management ConsultantDevmountain Apr 2014 - May 2016Lehi, Utah, UsAssisted founders and management team since inception and consulted heavily to help bring to fruition a $20 million exit for the founders and other equity holders. -
Advisory Board MemberSxsw V2V Mar 2014 - Feb 2016
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InvestorVidangel Dec 2013 - Jan 2016Lehi, Utah, Us -
InvestorTh Lee Putnam Ventures Jul 2000 - Jan 2016Us -
InvestorFormafina Feb 2015 - Dec 2015
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InvestorAptexx, Inc. Jul 2014 - Dec 2015Century Park, Ca, Us -
AdvisorArsenal Mkg May 2015 - Nov 2015 -
ColumnistBeehive Startups Mar 2015 - Jun 2015Lehi, Ut, Us -
Presidential Executive In Residence For Entrepreneurship At Woodbury School Of BusinessUtah Valley University Oct 2014 - Apr 2015Orem, Ut, UsUtah Valley University is now the largest university in Utah at 32,000 students. President Holland's honorary position allows me to assist the Woodbury School of Business and the Entrepreneur Institute at UVU to super-charge the development of student entrepreneurs and their ventures. -
InvestorReveal Chat Dec 2013 - Apr 2015
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InvestorSundance Capital Jul 2006 - Jan 2015
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InvestorAllegiance Jun 2004 - Jan 2015South Jordan, Ut, Us -
AdvisorAllegiance 2004 - 2005South Jordan, Ut, Us -
AdvisorLionheart Innovations Limited 2014 - 2015 -
AdvisorNovi Security 2014 - 2015Orem, Utah, Us -
Sr. AdvisorVicci Mobile Merch Sep 2013 - Dec 2014Advise CEO and run advisory board meetings.
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Co-Founder & Co-Managing PartnerBoomstartup Jan 2010 - Dec 2014Salt Lake City, Ut, UsBoomStartup is a mentorship driven investment program patterned after TechStars and Y-Combinator. BoomStartup focuses on the vibrant Utah tech market. Each year it select companies from among the many applicants to receive capital and mentoring in a summer program. -
Head Of Operations - Google Fiber - Provo UtGoogle Oct 2013 - Nov 2014Mountain View, Ca, UsOversee cross-functional operations of Google Fiber implementation in Provo, Utah. The position included all cross-function operational activities in addition to heavy community relations and community impact activity. Providing a local context to the landing of Google Fiber in Provo and Utah was as much of the job as the "rubber meets the road" day-to-day details on bringing gigabit Internet and enhanced television services to most of the Provo population. -
InvestorThe Aclaime Group Aug 2012 - Nov 2014Sandy, Utah, Us -
AdvisorPrinterlogic Apr 2013 - Sep 2014Saint George, Utah, Us -
Co-FounderLender Payments May 2013 - Jul 2014
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InvestorBazari Sep 2012 - Jul 2014Us -
ConsultantUniversity Of Texas At Dallas Feb 2014 - Mar 2014Richardson, Texas, Us -
AdvisorMyrooms Inc. Nov 2013 - Feb 2014
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Co-Founder / Chairman Of The BoardMatchmate, Inc. Jan 2012 - Dec 2013 -
Managing PartnerUtahangels Jul 2002 - Nov 2013The longest-running angel investing group in Utah. UtahAngels invests in startup and emerging companies as well as mature opportunities. -
Managing PartnerUtahangels Jan 2011 - Dec 2012 -
Founder-DirectorUtah Student 25 Feb 2009 - Aug 2013Provo, Utah, UsThe Utah Student 25 is an Inc. 500-like listing of the fastest growing student-founded businesses in Utah ranked by revenue and profit. Candidate companies nominate themselves by providing financial information. The event culminate in early November each year with a dinner banquet of Utah venture ecosystem dignitaries honoring the student entrepreneurs. -
FounderUtah Student 25 Feb 2009 - Aug 2013Provo, Utah, UsThe Utah Student 25 is an Inc. 500-like listing of the fastest growing student-founded businesses in Utah ranked by revenue and profit. Candidate companies nominate themselves by providing financial information. The event culminate in early November each year with a dinner banquet of Utah venture ecosystem dignitaries honoring the student entrepreneurs. -
AdvisorBlueroof 360 Jun 2012 - 2013
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AdvisorEnerlyte Sep 2010 - 2013
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AdvisorEnerlyte Sep 2010 - Dec 2012
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Board MemberUtah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum 2003 - 2013
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AdvisorOnlinetherapy.Com Jan 2012 - Dec 2012 -
AdvisorRecruithire.Com Jun 2011 - Jun 2012
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AdvisorInside Real Estate May 2011 - May 2012Murray, Utah, Us -
Board MemberThe Leonardo Jul 2010 - May 2012Salt Lake City, Ut, Us -
AdvisorThe Aclaime Group Dec 2011 - Feb 2012Sandy, Utah, Us -
AdvisorAmber Alert Gps 2009 - 2012Us -
Advisory Board MemberThanksgiving Point Institute Mar 2009 - Mar 2011Lehi, Ut, UsServe jointly with my wife, Susan Richards. -
AdvisorDoxtek Sep 2009 - Dec 2010Orem, Utah, Us -
DirectorEnticelabs, Inc. Aug 2007 - Nov 2010Salt Lake City, Ut, Us -
AdvisorMpowering Networks Mar 2010 - Sep 2010
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Co-FounderAlwaysathletes Jul 2008 - Sep 2010
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AdvisorZonder 2009 - 2010
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ConsultantQ90 Corporation Jan 2009 - Apr 2009Payson, Utah, Us -
ConsultantMosaic Atm Sep 2008 - Jan 2009Leesburg, Virginia, Us -
Investor & ConsultantPurqz Dec 2007 - Oct 2008American Fork, Ut, Us -
Investor & AdvisorOcean Grown International May 2007 - Mar 2008
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ConsultantFundinguniverse.Com Nov 2006 - Jan 2008South Jordan, Ut, Us -
ConsultantRapid Intake 2007 - 2008Us -
AdvisorItok Oct 2006 - Dec 2007Orem, Utah, Us -
ConsultantByu Bookstore Aug 2007 - Nov 2007Provo, Utah, Us -
DirectorSunrise Publishers, Inc. Apr 2005 - Apr 2007
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InvestorSunrise Publishing Group Inc 2006 - 2007 -
AdvisorCorda Techologies Mar 2004 - Sep 2006
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DirectorCleanfilms, Inc. Jan 2003 - Aug 2006Board of Directors
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ConsultantProvo Labs 2006 - 2006 -
ConsultantXpress Bill Pay 2006 - 2006American Fork, Utah, Us -
InvestorOmniture 2000 - 2006Lehi, Utah, Us
John Richards Education Details
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Brigham Young UniversityChemistry
Frequently Asked Questions about John Richards
What company does John Richards work for?
John Richards works for Startup Ignition Academy
What is John Richards's role at the current company?
John Richards's current role is Founder and CEO.
What schools did John Richards attend?
John Richards attended Brigham Young University.
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