John Banta

John is the Co-Founder of Carallel and serves as the company’s Executive Chairman. He also serves as the President & Managing Director of BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, the $900 million corporate venture fund complex supporting innovation for the 35 companies that comprise the BCBS system, which is sponsored by the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

Previously, John was the CEO and Managing Director of IllinoisVentures, the seed and early-stage technology venture investment firm focused on starting and building globally competitive businesses derived from Midwest universities and labs.

John earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business with high honors and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois College of Commerce. He serves on numerous corporate Boards, the Caregiver Action Network Leadership Council, the National Alliance for the Social Determinants of Health, and has been named to the Global Corporate Venture Powerlist 100 since its inception.