Jon Stanford
John is the Executive Director of Incubate Coalition, a 501(c)(4) organization of venture capital firms representing the patient, corporate, and investment communities. The primary aim is to educate policymakers on the role of venture capital in bringing promising treatments to patients in need. John is a government relations and public affairs professional with experience leading multi-year advocacy and awareness campaigns. As a partner at Prism Group, John leads Democratic lobbying and engagement on the federal level, specializing in identifying champions for pro-growth and innovation agendas. His relationships on Capitol Hill are build on nearly a decade of experience.
John Stanford is also the co-founder of Small Business Roundtable. More recently, he is on the board of directors of Pass USMCA, the organization dedicated to ratification of the U.S. – Mexico – Canada Agreement. As a part of the trilateral negotiating round in Montreal, Canada and in testimony before the International Trade Commission, John encouraged the inclusion of entrepreneurship priorities in all trade deals and the need for strong intellectual property protections. His previous efforts included work for a Democratic House Member on Capitol Hill, the British Houses of Parliament, a Presidential and Senate campaign, and with non-profit organizations. A Denver, CO native, he is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and has a B.A. in Government as well as an M. Ed. in Secondary Education. Prior to returning to Washington, John committed to Teach For America in Phoenix, Arizona. He currently sits on the DC board of his alma mater.
John provides regular commentary on key issues around innovation and the economy, including in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNBC.