Matthew Mccooe
Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur
Old Greenwich, Connecticut
Overview
Work Experience
CEO
2015 - Current
Connecticut Innovations (CI) is a strategic venture investor, and the leading source of financing for CT’s technology, consumer and life science companies, with AUM of $500M. CI invests in equity and debt up to $10M per company, as well as provides guidance and introductions to customers, talent , partners and co-investors. Serve as Chairman of the CT Biosciences Fund, and as lead investor and representative on the boards of Curacity, Dream Payments and Trebel Media. Led investments in several venture funds including Canaan Partners as part of a fund of fund expansion at CI which now includes 18 VC funds in CT. McCooe track record at CI includes exits- CoolIT Systems to KKR ($300M and soaring), Sema4 (IPO ticker: WGS), GreenWorks Lending ($100M+ sale to Nuveen), Tantalus Systems (IPO: TSX GRID), Budderfly (approaching $1B post), Modified Bio (up to $1.3B sale to Merck) and LogicSource ($180M LBO).
Managing Partner
2006 - 2015
• Helped launch $70M high tech venture capital firm, focused on early stage technology companies spun out of university and government R&D labs. Raised capital from US and International investors, including Battelle and several billionaire family offices • Specialized in companies in communications, green tech, software, computer vision and security/defense markets • Personally invested in and took board positions in several high growth tech companies, two of which, CoolIT Systems and PacStar, both surpassed $100M+ in revenue. One sold for 15X our investment price and the other sold for 45X. • While at CVP, stepped into dual role as interim CEO, successfully led turnaround of a recycled plastics manufacturing company and pulled in outside investors . Reworked payables, hired full-time CEO, and drove sales and marketing efforts. Directly and individually closed ten million dollar in sales to Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF and Canadian Pacific Railroad over several years while serving in part time role as the Company’s only sales and marketing executive.
Chart Venture Partners is an early stage venture capital fund investing in security related technologies with government and commercial
Managing Director
2001 - 2006
• Identified start-up opportunities arising from intellectual property invented at Columbia (office generated $160M/year in revenues from technology transfer, highest in the world) • Managed seed fund and portfolio of 50 active companies • Led licensing negotiations with entrepreneurs and investors, formulated and drafted agreements and business plans • Increased portfolio revenues by 70%, enjoyed eleven liquidity events/exits in final eighteen months, and generated an IRR for Series A investors of 21%
Columbia Technology Ventures engages in the facilitation of technology transfer services for the Columbia University.
Co-Founder, General Manager and Vice President Sales and Marketing
1999 - 2001
General Manager (Co-Founder), New York Region • Led 65 operations and sales employees, accelerating revenues from 0-$28M • Managed profit and loss, achieved positive EBITDA Vice President Sales and Marketing • Created sales and service program • Hired, trained and motivated team of 40 sales and marketing managers • Designed brand strategy, marketing materials and positioning, managed PR and Ad agencies • Company sold for ~$110M
Marketing Manager, Launched JV with Banamex/MCI’s Business Products in Mexico
1996 - 1997
• First full time US employee hired for massive startup in Mexico, responsible for driving revenues from $0 to $35M in first year of operations • Successfully launched the flagship voice and data services for the business market, effectively opening the Mexican telecommunications market to competition • Created and conducted training programs for 900 technical consultants and sales representatives • Developed brochures, customer presentations, phone cards, and direct mail campaigns • Avantel eventually sold for ~$500M
Product Manager, New Product Launches
1995 - 1996
• Managed the Home Health Care Division in Mexico, the Caribbean and Northern Latin America • Launched ACE Bandages and B-D Thermometers in Mexico in the midst of Mexico's economic crisis • Boosted sales in the Home Health Care Division by 70%
A segment of leading global medical technology company BD
Sales Executive
1992 - 1993
Received President's award as one of the top ten sales representatives in the country (out of ~1,000).
Co-Founder and General Manager
1991 - 1992
- Responsible for bottling, labeling, selling, and delivering Sol Rio, a beverage made from guarana, a popular bean-flavored drink from Brazil. As the sole founder/employee, I was responsible for launching the beverage in the marketplace. Opened and sold into over 50 outlets in less than 12 months going door to door.