John Banta

John Banta serves as the Executive Director of BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners and the Managing Director of the Fund’s General Partner.

In this capacity he is responsible for maintaining relationships with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the operational success of the Fund, its portfolio companies and for the generation of strategic and financial return for participating Blue Plans.

​Prior to joining BCBSA, John served as the CEO & Managing Director of Illinois Ventures, the premier seed and early-stage technology venture investment firm focused on starting and building globally-competitive businesses deriving from Midwest Universities and labs. John is also the former President and COO of DigitalWork, Inc. and Vice President of Corporate Services for UBS PaineWebber (formerly Kidder Peabody), and as a Director of the Investment Management Consultant’s Association.

John earned an MBA in finance and statistics with high honors from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois.