I am Jay DeVivo, Founder of CoFunder and Principal of CoFunder Advisors and CoFunder Ventures.  As a startup advisor, consultant, investor, and leader in a large company, I have built a reputation as a trusted advisor to startup founders and C-level executives.

I began my career as part of a merchant banking team that made early stage investments in technology companies.  Notable startups include FreeMarkets (IPO), AquaBounty fka A/F Protein (IPO), Marathon Technologies (acquired by Stratus), and Boston Duck Tours.

I moved to the other side of the table and started a consulting firm working with startups.  I guided startups in raising over $100 million in venture capital by teams articulate their competitive advantages, pinpoint high-value/high-margin market opportunities, and build sound go-to-market strategies.   I also worked with publicly held companies on projects that include new product development, partnerships, corporate strategy, and acquisition integration.

I subsequently had a corporate career at Cigna where I led Cigna Reinsurance’s Client Management function and served on a small team that set the risk management strategy for Cigna’s multi-billion-dollar variable annuity reinsurance program.  I held various Strategy/BizOps roles where my responsibilities included:  implementing large-scale, cross-functional data analytics projects, streamlining operational workflows, directing complex litigation, managing partnerships, and negotiating the operating agreement and SLA of a complex $2.2B transaction that allowed Cigna to exit a volatile business and focus on more profitable LOBs.

I started CoFunder Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor, to help RIAs give their clients access to venture.   Through CoFunder, I am currently doing advisory work with a focus on opportunities related to an aging population.

I enjoy mentoring entrepreneurs through my involvement with several accelerators in the US and Europe, and am particularly interested in the Italian startup ecosystem.  In Q42021, I started CoFunder Ventures, a personal fund where I make investments in pre-seed to Series-A startups.  I also enjoy writing about economics, longevity risk, and technology.  Some of my work has appeared in Business Insider, Insurance Thought Leadership, and Life & Health Advisor.