# Matthew McCooe

> Matthew McCooe is CEO of Connecticut Innovations, the state’s venture capital arm. A former entrepreneur and operating executive, he co-founded Eureka Networks, worked in university technology commercialization at Columbia, and invested at Chart Venture Partners before joining CI in 2015. His work combines financial returns with company building and job creation in Connecticut.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Connecticut Innovations
- **Organizations:** Connecticut Innovations, Chart Venture Partners, Columbia University Science and Technology Ventures, Eureka Networks, MCI, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, IntegriCo Composites
- **Education:** BA, Boston College, MBA, Columbia University - Columbia Business School
- **Known for:** Co-founded Eureka Networks, which sold for $110 million., Helped launch and manage Columbia spinouts; 11 companies went public or were acquired by publicly traded companies during his tenure., Helped lead an operating turnaround at IntegriCo Composites.

## Career timeline

- **1990–1991** — Volunteered through Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest as a refugee/political asylum paralegal and case manager.
- **1996** — Became marketing manager for MCI’s startup joint venture in Mexico.
- **2000** — A contemporary filing identifies him as Eureka Networks vice president and general manager for New York.
- **2004** — Contributed the chapter Achieving Proof of Concept to How to Build and Invest in Successful University Spinouts.
- **Before 2015** — Worked in university commercialization at Columbia and then as managing partner and fund manager at Chart Venture Partners.
- **2015** — Became Connecticut Innovations CEO; announced start date July 13.
- **2023–2025** — Participated in CI’s Tour de Connecticut bicycle tours connecting investors and portfolio companies.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Eureka Networks, which sold for $110 million.
- Helped launch and manage Columbia spinouts; 11 companies went public or were acquired by publicly traded companies during his tenure.
- Helped lead an operating turnaround at IntegriCo Composites.
- Led CI during fiscal 2026, when the organization reported $59.3 million invested across 75 companies and venture funds and $66.5 million in cash proceeds from portfolio exits.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Discussed CI’s fund-building, specialist investment managers and dual financial and Connecticut job-creation mandate in a Venture5 interview published August 19.
- **2026-07** — CI announced fiscal 2026 results on July 22: $59.3 million invested, $66.5 million cash proceeds from exits and $76.1 million total proceeds.
- **2025-09** — The third Tour de Connecticut ran September 15–18 from Stamford to Mystic.

## Links

- Website: https://ctinnovations.com/member/matthew-mccooe/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mccooe-36604a6

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/matthew-mccooe
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-10