John Parker is the Founder and Managing Partner of Springhood Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in life science and healthcare companies transforming the health and care of children. Mr. Parker founded Springhood following his success creating and managing CH Innovations, the impact-first venture capital subsidiary of the Charles H. Hood Foundation, a Boston-based family foundation that supports pediatric research, where he also serves as a trustee.

John is currently a director or observer on the boards of Xploro, Inc, Plakous Therapeutics, Deck Therapeutics, SmolTap, Argus Cognitive, Anida Pharma, Mesentech, Inc., and Prapela, Inc.. He also serves on the advisory boards of multiple nonprofit entities, largely around mission-driven healthcare investing. He is a frequent speaker on pediatric innovation and mission investing.

Previously, John spent 25 years in the alternative investment industry, including senior roles in venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds. Early in his career he worked in international merchant banking. Although currently living in the Boston area with his wife and their three children, John spent portions of his career in New York, Tokyo, and Sydney and has done business in over 20 countries on 6 continents. John has a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.