Bryan Knipe

The engineering half

I started as a software engineer. For about ten years I designed and built business systems in .NET, Java, COBOL and databases at Unisys, Thomson and Associated Financial Group, ending as a technical architect leading developers and data experts through the full software life cycle. I also served in the U.S. Navy Reserve in information technology.

The business half

Then I moved to the business side. At Optum (UnitedHealth Group) I built a managed analytics business and led a nine-figure deal in which a large health system outsourced its entire analytics organization to Optum, then led the transition. As COO/CFO I ran a $200M+ P&L and set up the enterprise-wide evaluation of AI and machine-learning investments across UnitedHealth Group.

Why TriPinnacle does this now

Since 2023 I have advised early-stage healthcare companies, served as interim CEO of a digital health company, and built RaiseForge, a production AI platform, from the ground up. Building it put the two halves of my career back together: own the business problem, design the system, ship it.

TriPinnacle does one thing: put AI into real work, with one person accountable for both the result and the build. Sometimes that means building the system. Sometimes the operation needs a leader first, and I step in as interim or fractional COO.

Why three peaks

The mark is three peaks, and so is the work: own the problem, build the system, run it in the work. Most AI projects have someone on one of them. The point of TriPinnacle is one person on all three.

Career

1. 2023–now

   Founder, TriPinnacle Advisors

   Forward-deployed AI and interim operations leadership. Built RaiseForge; interim CEO of a digital health company; advisor to early-stage healthcare companies.

2. Optum / UnitedHealth Group, 11 years

   General manager, COO/CFO, analytics businesses

   Built a managed analytics business, led a nine-figure analytics outsourcing deal and transition, ran a $200M+ P&L, set up enterprise-wide AI/ML investment evaluation.

3. 2011–2012

   Product manager, business systems, SUPERVALU

   Consolidated software, analytics and reporting for retail market development.

4. 2007–2011

   Technical architect and team lead, Associated Financial Group

   Designed business data solutions; led developers and data experts across the software life cycle.

5. 2006–2007

   Senior software engineer and project lead, The Thomson Corporation

   Built and enhanced business systems across several applications.

6. 2000–2006

   Programmer and systems analyst, Unisys

   Software engineer who became a mentor and team lead.

7. 2002–2007

   Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Navy Reserve

   Information technology: software, databases, network infrastructure and IT security.

See the work in detail