Irv Cohen

Responsible for building world-class businesses for global financial organizations, Mr. Cohen has amply and successfully demonstrated his expertise during his long and prestigious career. He is recognized as a leading speaker on treasury and cash management and has also made numerous appearances as a key speaker at conferences for Sibos and the Association of Financial Planners.

Holding numerous management positions including that of President of J.P. Morgan Treasury Technologies Corporation, Mr. Cohen and his strong leadership impelled the firm’s payments businesses to achieve numerous world-class rankings; number one cash management advisor; number one in U.S. Dollar clearing in the U.S., Asia, and Western Europe; and number one Clearing House Interbank Payment System (CHIPS).

When JP Morgan Treasury Services operations relocated from New York to Tampa, Mr. Cohen attracted and secured some of the brightest financial, technical and multi-lingual talent in the industry. Under his stewardship, not only were two thousand new jobs created, but the firm was considered the area’s premier “employer of choice”. Prior to his position with JP Morgan, Mr. Cohen was Chief Financial Officer for Lehman Brothers, as well as Chief Operating Officer for Barclay’s Bank. 

Most recently Mr. Cohen became CEO and Chairman of the Board for CodeBoxx, a St. Pete-based Technology School is dedicated to empowering the community through software development. CodeBoxx focuses on providing access to career paths based on potential rather than privilege and is intentional about diversity and inclusivity.

Irv joins partner Dave Chitester in founding Seedfunders, which provides funding and mentoring for pre-revenue technology concepts. Irv is currently an active investor in multiple early-stage companies, a founding partner in Seedfunders as well as The St. Petersburg Group, and is highly engaged in the nonprofit sector. Seedfunders has recently announced the launch of the Seedfunders Opportunity Fund. The committed capital fund will make pre-seed stage investments in Black-owned startups throughout the state. Seedfunders has formed an Investment Management Board to oversee the Fund. Founding Partner, Irv Cohen will lead the Board.

As an investor, he looks for cutting edge innovation through keeping his finger on the pulse and seeks effective, passionate entrepreneurs that share his enthusiasm for business growth. As a philanthropist, he maintains these principles through holding positions on the executive committees of all nonprofits he engages and seeks social enterprises that tie with his overall vision. Some of his involvement includes joining the Board of The Pinellas County Urban League, overseeing USF’s incubator and mentoring early-stage companies as well as current Chair and founding partner of Social Venture Partners Tampa Bay (SVP) offering leadership and funding to developing nonprofits. Mr. Cohen received his post-graduate degree in Finance from New York University and his MBA from Pace University. He is a Charted Global Management Accountant, a Certified Public Accountant, is the recipient of the and is a member of the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants and the Association for Financial Professionals.

Current Board Affiliations

Florida Holocaust Museum

Seedfunders Opportunity Fund

St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership

Social Venture Partners Tampa Bay - Board Chair

Past Board Affiliations

Social Venture Partners International

Big Brothers & Big Sisters Tampa Bay

Pinellas County Urban League

American Heart Association