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Welcome to Vectis
Volunteer Growth
Partners

At Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners (VVGP), we are more than just a venture capital firm—we are a community of University of Tennessee alumni and industry leaders committed to funding and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Our firm invests in early-stage and growth-stage businesses with a strategic focus on technology-driven innovation, real estate, and operational excellence.
Explore Our Funds
Book a Private Intro Call

Meet Our Leadership Team

A team of experienced operators, investors, and industry leaders guiding VVGP’s mission.

William “Mike” Gwinn

Co-founder and General Partner, Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners (VVGP)

Kevin Cooke

Founder and Managing Partner Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners

Jacques “Jake” Olivier

General Partner, Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners (VVGP)

Taylor Pennings

General Partner, Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners (VVGP)

WHAT SETS US APART

University-Backed
Network

Our firm is powered by a distinguished group of University of Tennessee alumni, unlocking exclusive deal flow, sector expertise, and strategic connections.

Smart Capital & Hands-On Support

We don’t just invest we partner with founders to provide operational guidance, mentorship, and growth-focused financial support.

AI Technology & Process Excellence

We use advanced AI technology and Lean principles to optimize deal sourcing, accelerate scaling, and maximize portfolio performance.

Community-Driven Impact

Our mission extends beyond financial returns—we foster innovation, empower entrepreneurs, and drive long-term economic growth.

A Dual-Fund Strategy for
Maximum Impact & Growth

VVGP Fund I

Traditional Private Investment Fund
Focused on:
  • Real Estate
  • Small Business Acquisitions
  • Growth-Stage Equity
View Both Funds

VVGP Fund II

Traditional Private Investment Fund
Focused on:
  • Real Estate
  • Small Business Acquisitions
  • Growth-Stage Equity
View Both Funds

PORTFOLIO PREVIEW

A Legacy of Success Through
Thoughtful Investments

We invest in forward-thinking companies using innovation, smart strategy, and operational excellence to make measurable impact.

Coming Soon

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Coming Soon

Portfolio update will appear here

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Coming Soon

Portfolio update will appear here

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LEARN — EDUCATION & INSIGHT

Education and Insight for Every Entrepreneur and Investor
VVGP provides articles, webinars, masterclasses, and insights to
empower founders and investors.
  • Engagement Opportunities – Exciting updates are underway.
  • Founders & PortCo – Exciting updates are underway.
  • VC / Real Estate 101 – Exciting updates are underway.
  • VC Masterclass – Exciting updates are underway.
  • Trends – Exciting updates are underway.
View Both Funds

ABOUT US

Driven by Purpose, Powered by Innovation
Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners is a VC firm founded by University of Tennessee alumni committed to scaling businesses and supporting community development.
We combine:
  • Real Estate
  • Technology
  • Finance
  • Operational leadership
Meet the Team

William “Mike” Gwinn

General Partner, Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners (VVGP)

mgwinn@vectivgp.com

Mike Gwinn is a mission-driven strategist and operator with extensive experience leading high-impact initiatives across the military, venture, and nonprofit sectors. As a General Partner with Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners (VVGP), Mike is building a unique hybrid venture model that merges for-profit investment discipline with community-focused nonprofit acceleration, driving sustainable economic development and entrepreneurial opportunity from the ground up.
A retired U.S. Army leader, Mike’s early career was forged in complex operational environments, where he specialized in Intelligence and SOF mission sets requiring strategic foresight, risk mitigation, and team-level leadership. This foundation informs his executive mindset: one that balances tactical precision with long-range vision.
Through VVGP, Mike focuses on architecting a growth ecosystem grounded in strategic intent, talent-first principles, and aligned systems. He invests in emerging small businesses and localized growth equity while designing strategic partnerships with universities, incubators, and accelerators to foster mentorship, capital access, and real-world execution support.
Mike’s strategic leadership framework is shaped by his Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee and his ongoing application of best practices in organizational alignment, talent portfolio management, and capability-based scaling. He’s a certified Human-Centered Design practitioner and actively applies agile strategy mapping, culture fit assessments, and mission-driven imperatives to align vision with results.
Recognized for his ability to connect the “why” behind a venture to the systems that power its execution, Mike excels at building multi-stakeholder coalitions, crafting actionable roadmaps, and empowering others to lead with clarity and purpose. Whether mentoring emerging founders or stewarding capital with care, his approach blends humility, operational rigor, and a passion for legacy-driven impact.

Kevin Cooke

Managing Partner Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners

kcooke7@vectisvgp.com

Kevin is the Managing Partner at Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners, where he leads the firm’s investment strategy, operational value creation, and long-term growth initiatives. He brings over 15 years of executive experience across marketing, commercial strategy, and general management, with a focus on driving performance in highly regulated and consumer-facing industries.
In addition to his role at Vectis, Kevin currently serves as a senior executive at a Fortune 500 company, where he leads multi-state business operations, manages P&L oversight, and drives go-to-market strategy across sales, marketing, and innovation teams. His leadership has delivered measurable growth in revenue, operational efficiency, and team performance.
Kevin holds an MBA in Executive Leadership from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee and a BA from the University of Kentucky.

Jacques “Jake” Olivier

General Partner, Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners (VVGP)

jolivier@vectisvgp.com

Jake is a seasoned operations and engineering leader with over 18 years of experience in the nuclear energy sector, including both commercial and military settings. With expertise in operational excellence, equipment reliability, organizational effectiveness, and performance improvement, Jake has a proven track record of driving performance and fostering accountability in high-stakes environments.
A proponent of intent-based leadership and people-centric solutions, Jake is skilled at building high-performing teams, mentoring future leaders, and driving cultural change for long-term success. He has successfully developed and implemented strategic initiatives that align sector best practices with organizational goals and mission, improving efficiency, agility, and financial outcomes.
Jake’s influential leadership style drives effective collaboration with stakeholders at all levels, leveraging data-driven insights and innovative problem-solving approaches to address complex challenges. His ability to integrate technical expertise with strategic vision makes him a valuable asset in leading organizational transformation and delivering sustained results.
Education:
  • Executive MBA, University of Tennessee
  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Tulane University
  • US Navy Nuclear Power School, Officer Program

Taylor Pennings

General Partner, Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners (VVGP)

tpennings@vectisvgp.com

Taylor Pennings is a seasoned people strategist and executive leader with over a decade of experience driving organizational growth through culture, talent, and strategic human capital development. As a General Partner at Vectis Volunteer Growth Partners, she leads business and culture development initiatives, with a focus on supporting female-owned businesses and ensuring cultural alignment across the firm’s investment activities.
Taylor brings deep experience across a range of industries—including hospitality, collegiate and professional sports—where she has built and scaled people-first strategies that drive performance, retention, and leadership development. Her expertise in talent and people strategy, equity-based compensation, and organizational design supports VVGP’s mission to create lasting value through inclusive and values-driven investments.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from the State University of Oswego and an Executive MBA in Strategic Leadership from the University of Tennessee’s Haslam School of Business.