Calvin Cooper

Calvin Cooper is a Venture Partner on the NCT Ventures investment team and focuses on identifying and evaluating new venture capital investment opportunities, market and competitive intelligence, strategy, fundraising, and portfolio management. Additionally, he represents NCT on boards of technology companies within the portfolio, including Kare Intellex and SafeChain as the Board Chairman at both companies, and as a board observer at Data Inventions and Ethex.

An advocate for entrepreneurship in the community, Calvin serves on non-profit boards of directors and advisory boards, including the San Francisco-based Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Young Executive Advisory Board, the Columbus Music Commission Board of Directors, and formerly on the i.c.stars Columbus Board of Directors. 

Prior to becoming a venture capitalist, Calvin served in an executive role at the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC), helping Fortune 1000 companies facilitate supplier diversity programs within their supply chains. During Calvin’s time at the organization, he conducted merger due diligence and integration, helping expand the organization. Additionally, he co created and published the annual OMSDC Economic Impact Report and Connections Magazine. To enhance the Council’s platform to build the next generation of diverse owned suppliers, he co-founded and launched the MBE Academy in partnership with the City of Columbus.

He led and co-authored the National Survey on Access to Capital Among Minority Business Enterprises. Additionally, he serves as the Research Advisor for VentureOhio, co-authoring the research and publication of the annual Venture Report.

Calvin served as an Adjunct Professor at The Ohio State University Fisher School of Business, teaching Startup Finance and Venture Capital. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Capital University in Financial Economics.