JR

John Richards

Entrepreneur | Venture Investor | Mentor | Advisor

Provo, Utah

Education

Work Experience

  • Managing Partner

    2022

    Startup 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 / Founder

    2015

    Startup 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.

2021

  • Advisor

    2021

  • Advisor

    2019

  • Senior Advisor

    2017

  • Founder with Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology

    2000

  • Associate Professor

    2001 - 2013

    Teaching 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.

  • President

    2004

    Consulting engagements in the areas of start-up and emerging ventures, Internet, software, high tech, and other verticals.

  • Manager

    2004

    Venture and Private Equity

  • Manager

    2004

    Debt Investments