John McIlwraith
Managing Director
513.723.2311
John started his career as a corporate lawyer (yeah, we know) at Jones Day, where he co-founded the Private Ventures group after determining that the firm needed a better way to serve the needs of early-stage companies and venture capital/private equity investors. After several years of representing VC firms, like Primus and Morgenthaler, and early-stage technology companies, he decided he was jealous of how much fun his clients were having, and that he wanted to go down a more entrepreneurial path.
Although he achieved success as an attorney, he knew that to succeed as a venture capitalist he would need operating experience. So, he joined publicly-traded Quantum Health Resources, a provider of drugs and related therapies to patients with rare, chronic diseases, as SVP of business development. While there, he was able to gain insights into the healthcare industry, including through being involved in the launch of a mail-order specialty pharmacy and several new products. In 1997, shortly after Quantum was sold to Olsten Health Services, John was recruited by Blue Chip Venture Company to join the firm as its third partner.
John’s investment experience includes software, business services, and healthcare companies, such as AssureRx, Bluegill Technologies (sold to Checkfree), Inspiris (sold to United Healthcare), Medhost (sold to HealthTech Holdings), Healthscribe (sold to Spheris), and Renal Solutions (sold to Fresenius). He is still a managing director with Blue Chip, and is responsible for its investments in Blue Chip Surgical, Endocyte,
John has been involved in a variety of early-stage venture initiatives throughout the region. He was involved in the formation of Gazelle TechVentures, where he served on the executive and investment committees, and where he met Don . He was also a founding member of the Michigan Venture Capital Association board of directors, and is the president of the advisory board of the Northern Kentucky University Entrepreneurship Institute, where he has taught courses on new venture creation and business plan development.
Education
JD, Case Western Reserve University
BA, Hillsdale College
Quote that says it all:
"As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do." - Andrew Carnegie
Business book worth reading:
The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey
Most-played artists on iPod:
Crosby, Stills & Nash; Van Morrison; Mumford and Sons
Favorite Western:
The Magnificent Seven
