Mike brings 24 years of global financial services experience to his role as Managing Partner of Garden State Venture Partners. For 14 years, he served as Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase in New York and Hong Kong, advising sophisticated institutional investors—including mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds—on capital deployment, risk management, and liquidity strategies.

Before JPMorgan, he held leadership positions at Goldman Sachs in New York and later co-headed the firm’s Treasury and Financing business in London. He supported alternative asset managers through one of the most tumultuous periods in modern financial history, helping clients manage risk, optimize liquidity, and innovate their businesses. He began his career at Deutsche Bank, where he developed, implemented, and administered core operational and risk frameworks supporting institutional trading businesses.

Beyond his capital markets expertise, Mike has led strategic initiatives at J.P. Morgan aimed at talent and workforce development, community revitalization, and inclusive economic growth. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Rowan University, studied international finance at Coventry University in the UK, and completed entrepreneurship training at Cornell University.

A proud New Jersey native, Michael is deeply committed to advancing the region’s innovation economy. As the former Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the Rowan University Foundation Board and Chair of the Rowan Innovation Venture Fund, he is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs and investors.

Ernie is a distinguished corporate and securities attorney as well as a partner at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, a leading AM Law 200 firm in Philadelphia. Since 2020, he has served as Managing Director of the Rowan Innovation Venture Fund, where he has guided early-stage investments and fostered growth for emerging companies. He was also a key contributor to the Fund’s Screening and Advisory Committees from its inception in 2014.

As a trusted advisor with a strong background in venture capital, Ernie offers outside general counsel services to a range of growing businesses, venture capital firms, and angel investors. His expertise spans entity formation, capital raises, deal structures, corporate restructurings, and mergers & acquisitions, including transactions valued over $2.5 billion.

A proud Rowan University alumnus, where he earned an MBA and Bachelor’s Degree, Ernie is invested in fostering local talent through his roles as an adjunct professor and member of the Rowan University Rohrer College of Business’ Entrepreneurship Advisory Council. He is an active member of the venture capital and angel investing communities in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, working closely with local entrepreneurs to drive innovation and growth in shaping the entrepreneurial ecosystem in both states.

Shawn is a seasoned investor, operator, and advisor with over two decades of experience at the intersection of venture capital, innovation, and entrepreneurship. A proud Rowan University alumnus (’98), Shawn brings a deep understanding of the university’s mission and a strong commitment to driving regional impact through entrepreneurship.

Prior to co-founding GSVP, Shawn served as a Partner at Moderne Ventures, a strategic venture capital and growth equity firm with more than $600M in assets under management. There, he helped invest in and manage a venture portfolio of over 100 companies, spanning from early-stage to IPO.

Shawn was also the Co-founder and Managing Partner of August Hill, a global advisory firm supporting venture funds and their high-growth startups with capital strategy, talent acquisition, strategic partnerships, and go-to-market execution.

Earlier in his career, Shawn built a strong operational foundation at high-growth firms including DocuSign and Constellation Software, where he led teams in business development and corporate strategy.

At GSVP, Shawn combines institutional experience, global perspective, and deep local roots to help transform Rowan into a national leader in research commercialization and economic development. His work is guided by a belief that regional innovation, when fueled by intentional capital and mission-aligned leadership, can create enduring value for communities, founders, and investors alike.