Bob Richards

Managing Partner // Open Water Ventures

Bob Richards is a principal in Open Water Ventures, a private equity and venture capital company focused on the consumer products and services industries. He also serves as CEO of AdventureMed, LLC, which develops and markets medical education programs. Mr. Richards was formerly the CFO and a founder of Nittany Ventures, LLC, a Little Caesars Pizza franchisee, and the CEO and founder of Rockreation, Inc., the first multi state operator of membership based indoor rock climbing facilities.

Prior to founding Rockreation, Mr. Richards served as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Valley Grain Products, a national food company manufacturing and marketing ingredients for Mexican food products. He also served as Marketing Director for the Ice Cream Division of Carnation/Nestle Foods, USA and worked as a Certified Public Accountant with Ernst & Whinney. Born and raised in the Midwest, Mr. Richards received his B.S. in business from the University of Arizona and his MBA from the University of Southern California. He is also a Certified Global Management Accountant. Some of Mr. Richard’s other activities include student mentoring at the Colorado University Leeds Graduate School of Business, judging for various business plan competitions, public speaking on entrepreneurship, and volunteering with various charitable organizations.

Now residing in Superior Colorado, Mr. Richards is involved in various investment and business activities as a principal of Open Water Ventures. Mr. Richards is also active in the manufactured climbing wall industry providing risk management and corporate development consulting services to climbing wall operators and serves as an expert witness in climbing related litigation. He currently serves on the boards of directors of AdventureMed, LLC, Climbing Wall Advisors, Climbing Wall Association (emeritus), Vertical World, Inc., and Wilderness Medicine of Utah. Bob has three children, Will 27, Rob 26 and Kathryn 23 and is an avid climber, skier, biker, hiker and fly fisherman.