NEWS & MEDIAPress, interviews, podcasts, and the things I’ve written.
2022
AUG
BUILT IN DFW
AUTIX Helps Car-Lovers Track Their Vehicle Upgrades
A Future 5 feature on the McKinney-based platform that lets enthusiasts document modifications and get AI-powered valuations, after two pitch wins in its first DFW year.
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2022
AUG
DALLAS INNOVATES
McKinney Auto Enthusiast App Autix Wins Capital One Pitch Competition at Dallas Startup Week
First place and $15,000 at the Capital One Accelerator Pitch Competition, with the X Estimate valuation tool at the center of the pitch.
READ ↗2022
JAN
CODELAUNCH
Startup AUTIX Thrives after Winning CodeLaunch DFW 2021
How the hackathon mockup became a working MVP, plus a grant, new hires, and a seed round in progress.
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2021
NOV
DALLAS INNOVATES
McKinney-Based Autix Wins CodeLaunch DFW Competition with Auto Enthusiasts Platform
AUTIX takes the 10th CodeLaunch at Frisco's Comerica Center with a platform for creating, sharing, and exploring custom vehicle profiles.
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2021
JUN
WCBU PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
New Downtown Civic Innovation Space Looks To Address Peoria's Community Issues
Joe Deacon on the Peoria Innovation Alliance's Center for Civic Innovation, applying design thinking to challenges like poverty and healthcare access.
2021
JUN
WCBU PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
Q&A: Peoria Innovation Alliance's Jake Hamann
On the alliance's updated strategic plan, its redesigned site, and the nine-block Innovation District downtown.
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2020
NOV
STARTUP CHAMPIONS NETWORK
A Plan to Return to Better in Peoria
The Return to Better initiative: education, unified service providers, an early-stage innovation fund, and policy advocacy for a post-pandemic recovery built on entrepreneurship.
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2020
SEP
AWARD · ILLINOIS SBDC AT BRADLEY UNIVERSITY
2020 Small Business Advocate of the Year
Recognized for ecosystem building and advocacy for entrepreneurs and startups across Greater Peoria through the Peoria Innovation Alliance.
2020
AUG
START US UP
Q&A: Peoria Innovation Alliance's Jake Hamann
Why the alliance joined the Start Us Up coalition and hosted a 75-person town hall on America's New Business Plan.
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2020
FEB
WCBU PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
Changing the Narrative: Q&A With Peoria Innovation Alliance Founder Jake Hamann
Tim Shelley on the alliance's first year and its push to renew life in Peoria's central business district.
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2018
MAR
PEORIA MAGAZINE
Entrepreneur + Enthusiast = AUTIX
An early profile of AUTIX, where entrepreneurship met a lifelong automotive obsession.
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2015
NOV
PEORIA MAGAZINE
40 Leaders Under Forty
Recognized as one of Greater Peoria's emerging leaders for building ONEFIRE and co-founding Startup Peoria.
READ ↗2015
APR
PEORIA MAGAZINE
Q&A with Jake Hamann, OneFire
From freelance graphic design to a full-service innovation firm serving Caterpillar and Maui Jim, and the case for Peoria as a place that solves real problems.
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Pieces I’ve written for LinkedIn, republished in full on the blog.
2026
AUG 10
NORTH TEXAS · ECOSYSTEM · VIA LINKEDIN
Five Years of Building in North Texas: What Works, What's Still Broken
An honest account of five years, from someone who is still glad he came.
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2026
AUG 7
AI · BUILDING · VIA LINKEDIN
I Used Claude to (Re)Build Three Platforms in Four Months. Here's the Part Nobody Posts About.
The rabbit hole opened fast after that. What I found at the bottom of it wasn't a productivity trick.
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2025
JAN 23
LEADERSHIP · ENTREPRENEURSHIP · VIA LINKEDIN
From Consultant to Serial Entrepreneur: A Journey Rooted in Leadership
When I first started as a consultant, it was just me—one person working to help clients navigate challenges and find solutions. But as I grew, I started to see an opportunity for something bigger.
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2021
APR 21
PEORIA · ECOSYSTEM · VIA LINKEDIN
“We have a strategic plan, it’s called doing things.”
In late 2012, I was introduced to a book called Startup Communities by Brad Feld. After becoming immersed in each and every concept, example, and story about the transformation that was happening in Boulder, Colorado, I…
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2019
MAR 22
PEORIA · ECOSYSTEM · VIA LINKEDIN
It’s time to change the narrative…
Tonight, I want to share an evolution in what has been a passion of mine since launching Startup Peoria (now Startup Greater Peoria) back in December of 2012.
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DEC 30, 2024 · STARTUP ANTHOLOGY
From Banquets to Startups: The Inspiring Journey of Jake Hamann
Jeremy Willis on the road from managing a Peoria banquet facility to building AUTIX, plus the mental and emotional strain founders rarely talk about.
NOV 28, 2023 · GET CELEBRITIZED WITH AUREA MCGARRY
Fueling the Entrepreneurial Fire: More Than Just an Inspiring TEDx Story
Disrupting industries, building ventures, and community impact through mentorship and innovation initiatives.
OCT 28, 2020 · THE PEOPLE OF PEORIA PODCAST
Jake Hamann, Founder of the Peoria Innovation Alliance (Episode 10)
Recorded at The Nest Coworking: growing up in Pekin, the entrepreneurial mindset, losing a spouse, and making Peoria the innovation hub of the Midwest.
JUL 17, 2019 · TARTER SOURCE WITH STEVE TARTER
Jake Hamann — Peoria Innovation Alliance
On the newly launched alliance, ONEFIRE, and the potential in Peoria's future.
MAY 26, 2016 · BUILTWORLDS
How Startups are Bridging the Tech Gap
How startups help large corporations reach emerging technology faster than they can build it themselves.
SHORT BIO
Jake Hamann helps companies and leaders design their transformation. For organizations, that means creative approaches to innovation, customer experience, and digital transformation as founder of ENTEVATE and Momentify, founder and CEO of AUTIX, co-founder of KINECT, and Chief Growth Officer at PROVEN. For men navigating change, it means redesigning life with intention through Rediscovering Me. An award-winning entrepreneur and TEDx speaker based in Frisco, Texas, Jake has been a pioneering voice in entrepreneurial ecosystem development through Right to Start, Startup Champions Network, the Peoria Innovation Alliance, and partnerships with the Kauffman Foundation and the International Economic Development Council.
HONORS & AWARDS
- 40 Leaders Under 40 (Class of 2015)
- SBDC Small Business Advocate of the Year (2020)
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- AAF ADDY Award: Gold, Best of Show, Judge’s Choice
SOCIAL
MEDIA KIT · PDF
The 2026 Media Kit
Bio, expertise, speaking, and contact details in one five-page PDF, ready for event programs, press, and podcast producers.
PHOTOS · CLICK TO PREVIEW AND DOWNLOAD
Please credit Jake Hamann. Editorial portraits by Jasmin Huitzil.