Why Connecticut Innovations: Interviews, Careers, & Portfolio

Connecticut Innovations Overview

Connecticut Innovations (also referred to as “CI”) is the state’s venture capital arm and the primary source of financing and support for the growing companies in Connecticut.

CI provides capital and access to its network of partners and talents to help companies grow further.

Their biggest strength as a VC is that they operate within the state government – which is a high-potential market, but also has a high barrier of entry for early-stage companies.

In 2021, a new law was passed which allowed different government departments to try out the company’s solutions to solve their problems. If it turns out fine, the departments can then hire those companies directly within a year.

Matthew McCooe leads Connecticut Innovations’ VC loans, funds, and programs. The firm is based in New Haven, Connecticut and was founded in 1989.

Connecticut Innovations AUM

According to the official website of Connecticut Innovations, the firm has $500 million in assets under management.

Connecticut Innovations Interview Process & Questions

Firms typically modify the process for each candidate as they see fit. However, when you interview at Connecticut Innovations or similar firms, you can expect the following:

• Interview will be ~ 4 to 6 rounds
• The HR team of junior investment professionals will be your interviewers in the initial rounds, then the more senior folks take over at the later rounds.
• It can take several weeks before the entire interview process concludes (unless it’s “on-campus” or “on-cycle” recruiting)

Prepare to answer a mixture of technical / investing questions, fit questions, and behavioral questions.

Check out my Growth Equity Interview Guide if you need help with your preparation.

Why Connecticut Innovations

The “why this firm” question will most likely show up during your interviews, so it’s best to prepare for it beforehand.

To answer this question properly, you can mention the people at the firm whom you’ve met during your networking efforts. Share how their professional growth and experience at the firm motivated and inspired you to be part of the team.

It’s also important to research the firm. One way to do this is by listening to interviews with its founders, investors, or management team.

For example, here’s quick overview of what Connecticut Innovations is based from its leadership team:

Connecticut Innovations Case Study

Investment firms prefer candidates with good communications skills and deep technical knowledge. To evaluate these traits, they almost always require candidates to do case studies during interviews.

Most case studies at firms like Connecticut Innovations will have you perform financial modeling and present investment recommendations. But expect to do a cold calling case study as well if you’re applying for a junior role.

Learn more about case studies inside my Growth Equity Interview Guide.

Connecticut Innovations Salary & Compensation

According to Glassdoor, investment analysts and associates at Connecticut Innovations both receive a median total pay of $110K per year. Figures can fluctuate based on your level of experience, skills, and education.

Analyst

Associate

Connecticut Innovations Careers, Jobs, & Internships

Visit our job board to view professional investing opportunities at Connecticut Innovations and similar firms.

Connecticut Innovations Portfolio & Investments

According to Crunchbase, Connecticut Innovations has made 312 investments across two funds. Some of their notable deals include DeepLook Medical, Nest Collaborative, and Slooh.

Notable Transaction: Conduce Health

Conduce Health (Conduce) is a healthcare tech company based in New York City formed to be a holistic solution specifically for multi-specialty value-based care.

Conduce provides a platform which makes it easier for specialists to manage specialty care risk, and process payments and contracts. It also uses actuarial data to connect the right specialist to the right patient.

In March 2024, Connecticut Innovations led a Seed round which helped Conduce Health raise $3 million funding. CityLight, AlleyCorp, and other investors also participated in the funding round.

Conduce Health plans to use the investment to expand their business reach and improve operations.

Next Steps

If you want to be part of Connecticut Innovations, be sure to check their site or our job board for any open roles, and don’t forget to check out my Growth Equity Interview Guide course.

The course can help you increase your chances of getting selected for the role, as it will teach you concepts that typically show up during interviews such as financial modeling, case studies, and more.

Get the course and start learning today!