Pete Wilkins

Pete Wilkins is a purpose-driven leader committed to creating a positive impact on the world by investing in people and organizations.

Today, Pete leads the most active early-stage venture group in the Midwest, HPA. He and his firm take a people-first approach—they purposefully invest human and financial capital in entrepreneurs—to help build businesses that matter.

Prior to HPA, Pete successfully founded, built, and transformed companies in multiple industries. He co-founded New Futuro and worked with KKR as President of PRIMEDIA Healthcare, where he built one of the premier online physician education communities in the industry. Before PRIMEDIA, Pete served in senior sales and marketing roles for two technology startups, one that IPO’d and the other that was acquired for nearly $2 billion.

When Pete’s not focused on HPA, writing his book, The Omaxen Principles, or developing the Omaxen app, he serves as a board member and advisor to several companies. He is also passionate about the Chicago community and is actively engaged in World Business Chicago ChicagoNext Leadership Council, the Economic Club of Chicago, and the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, which is working on P33, a bold initiative to make Chicago a global technology leader.

He was named one of the Top 100 Chicago Innovators by Chicago Tribune, 50 on Fire by Chicago Inno, the winner of Illinois Technology Association CityLIGHTS Industry Champion Award, and the Chicago Innovation Award. Pete writes about startups and venture capital for VentureBeat and Forbes and is a regular contributor to Thrive Global about helping people maximize purpose, wellness, and performance. He holds a degree in business from Indiana University and graduated from the University of Chicago Booth Executive Institute.

Pete enjoys spending time with his family and friends, training to maximize his physical and mental performance, and championing issues that matter to him.