PETE WILKINS
There is no doubt Pete Wilkins knows what it means to have purpose. During the pandemic, Pete’s body shut down; he was intubated, sedated, and forced to fight for his life. He won that battle.
But his war to stay alive as a teenager first taught him the power of purpose. When he was 10 years old, Pete’s mother died of cancer. A few years later, his father had a heart attack on the day of Pete’s high school homecoming and died 18 months later from a stroke. Less than a year after his father’s death, Pete was brutally attacked. He was clubbed in the head so violently, the right side of his skull was completely shattered. He nearly died before he even reached the hospital (let alone his twentieth birthday).
As a result of these experiences, Pete was frequently forced to contemplate the purpose of life. He became a fighter. His purpose was not only to survive, but to thrive, which has guided the trajectory of his life.
He learned to grow his entrepreneurial spirit and dedicate his life to the pursuit of his own purpose.
Before he was 30, Pete was a critical part of two technology start-ups that sold and IPO-ed for more than $2.8 billion. He later went on to lead the turnaround of a medical education company from record losses to record profits, which he followed by starting a double-bottom-line company focused on college attainment for Latino families. Not every step was successful, but they were all purposeful.
Today, Pete leads HPA—one of the most successful early-stage venture investor groups in the country. He and his firm have partnered with hundreds of founders to help turn their dreams into reality, helping them scale their businesses from start-ups into industry leaders, many of which have also gone on to join the exclusive “Unicorn Club.” As a venture investor, board member, and advisor to many entrepreneurs, Pete has created billions of dollars of economic value, but more importantly, he has helped countless founders manifest their purposes into thriving businesses that are improving the world.
In his first book, Purpose First Entrepreneur, Pete draws on a lifetime of lessons and research into value-driven principles and proven methodologies, plus the vast insights he’s garnered from working with and investing in some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. The book and online resources offer a new approach to help entrepreneurs discover their purpose, turn it into a thriving Purpose First Business, and harness it to perform at an elite level in all aspects of their lives.
In the spirit of giving back, Pete shares his perspective and insights about investing in companies and people as a Forbes contributor. He is also passionate about building Chicago’s entrepreneurial community and is actively engaged in World Business Chicago Leadership Council, Future Founders, and P33, a bold initiative to make Chicago a global technology leader. In recognition of his contributions, Pete has been named one of the Top 100 Chicago Innovators by the Chicago Tribune, was recognized as an "Innovation Blazer" by Chicago Inno, and won the Illinois Technology Association CityLIGHTS Industry Champion Award and the Chicago Innovation Award.
Pete holds a degree in business from Indiana University and graduated from the University of Chicago Booth Executive Institute. He resides in Chicago with his family.