As Vice President of Innovation, Jake Rishavy works to elevate Colorado’s visibility as one of the world’s premier places to do business for growth-oriented startup and second-stage companies. He achieves this by making the ecosystem of resources accessible to growing companies and bridging connections between innovative, emerging companies and larger, at-scale companies. In this role, Jake has built and continues to build programs to support entrepreneurs in Denver South’s key industry verticals and niche markets.

Jake co-founded Prime Health, a community of 1000+ Colorado-based health care executives, clinicians, entrepreneurs and technologists dedicated to supporting innovation digital health technologies to improve care and lower cost. The group supports now a broader network of 120+ Colorado digital health companies. Jake also founded TechrIoT, an IoT community focused on accelerating the commercialization of IoT innovations through community building, education, design mentorship and supply chain financing, among many other tools. Finally, Jake is a founding member of Innovators Colorado, a state chapter of Innovators International, a roundtable of the Chief Innovation Officers of non-competing large companies who jointly problem-solve each other’s biggest innovation-related challenges.

Jake also works to promote the Denver South region locally, nationally and internationally, and serves as liaison to a number of partner organizations, including business associations and regional economic development groups.

Jake is a Minnesota native who has lived in the Denver area since 2001. Prior to joining Denver South EDP, he worked in public policy and communications roles for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He also owned and operated Ricochet, an innovative design and branding collective. Outside of work, he lends his expertise to charitable endeavors and enjoys exploring Colorado’s wealth of hidden spots for fishing, camping, snowboarding, and any number of other outdoor sports.