AllCiv
Citizen-facing civic engagement platform designed to help people better understand public issues, political institutions, and opportunities for participation.
Visit Platform →Biography
Background, education, travel, and influences.
Matthew Chervenak is an entrepreneur dedicated to strengthening liberal democracy and advancing science. He founded and leads Legis1 and AllCiv, which improve political knowledge, discourse, and engagement for citizens, professionals, and public officials. He founded and leads AllSci, which reframes the creation, utilization, and measurement of scientific knowledge. He is founder and president of the Sunwater Institute, a nonprofit think tank advancing fundamental ideas for improving liberal democratic institutions. He is a founder and General Partner of Sunwater Capital, an investment firm.
Mr. Chervenak writes and speaks on the US Congress, US democratic and civic institutions, scientific knowledge, biotechnology, and US-China relations. He writes music and cofounded Irregular Order, a band celebrating the US Congress. He hosted a YouTube series on how the US Congress can improve its institutional performance.
Previously, Mr. Chervenak founded GBI, a Shanghai-based data and analytics company serving the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, which he led for two decades before its acquisition in 2023. His earlier career included strategy consulting and neuroscience research.
Educated
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University
Pennsylvania State University
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Secondary
Georgetown Preparatory School
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Middle
Julius West Middle School
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Elementary
College Gardens Elementary School
Lived
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2012 – Present
Maryland
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2002 – 2012
Shanghai
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1998 – 2002
New York City
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1994 – 1998
Pennsylvania
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1975 – 1994
Maryland
Traveled
47 / 50
US States Visited
All but Alaska, North Dakota, and Washington.
29
Countries Visited
- United States
- Canada
- Argentina
- United Kingdom
- Portugal
- Spain
- France
- Germany
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Italy
- Vatican City
- Greece
- Sweden
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Morocco
- South Africa
- India
- China
- Japan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Singapore
- Indonesia
- Australia
Loved
- Foundation
- Campbell Biology
- Alexander Hamilton
- Heart of Darkness
- Lord Jim
- The Descent of Man
- The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
- On the Origin of Species
- The Voyage of the Beagle
- The Selfish Gene
- Guns, Germs, and Steel
- Crime and Punishment
- The Story of Civilization
- The Sound and the Fury
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- Capitalism and Freedom
- The Information
- The Road to Serfdom
- The Old Man and the Sea
- The Glass Bead Game
- Gödel, Escher, Bach
- The Odyssey
- The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
- Brave New World
- Principles of Neural Science
- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
- The Last Lion
- Moby-Dick
- On Liberty
- Lolita
- Beyond Good and Evil
- The Logic of Collective Action
- 1984
- Plato’s Dialogues
- Gravity’s Rainbow
- Atlas Shrugged
- Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy
- The Wealth of Nations
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Cat’s Cradle
- On Human Nature
- The Social Conquest of Earth
- The Master Switch
Ventures
Businesses, nonprofits, and products I have worked on.
Legis1
News, data, and analytics platform focused on the US Congress and the legislative process, providing comprehensive insights into federal legislation and policymaking.
Visit Platform →AllSci
Reframing how scientific knowledge is created, shared, and explored. Transforming the way the scientific community collaborates and advances research through innovative platforms and tools.
Explore Platform →Sunwater Institute
Nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank with a mission to strengthen the foundations of liberal democracy through interdisciplinary science, technology, and open dialogue. Focused on research in four program areas: Congressional Reform, Intellectual Property, Rights and Liberties, and Group Decision Making.
Explore Our Work →Sunwater Capital
Investment firm with holdings in real estate, healthcare, and data businesses. Co-founded with Stephany Yu, the name "Sunwater" signifies two resources critical for life to grow and flourish, providing capital and experience entrepreneurs can leverage to grow and shape their industries.
Visit Site →GBI (General Biologic)
Shanghai-based data and analytics company serving the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Acquired in 2023 after two decades of operation.
Reframe Health
Shanghai-based mobile health business serving patients, doctors, and caregivers.
The Alley Post
A neighborhood newspaper that served the local community, delivering hyperlocal news, stories, and content that connected neighbors and strengthened community bonds.
Writing
Collection of my coauthored and solo work.
Revitalizing the House: Bipartisan Recommendations on Rules and Process
Co-authored with the Hoover Institution's Center for Revitalizing American Institutions. A bipartisan task force of former members of Congress, staffers, and scholars recommending reforms to House rules and procedures to re-empower individual members and committees in lawmaking.
Read Report →Patent Quality in the United States: Findings and Suggestions for Policymakers
Co-authored with Ani Harutyunyan, Mark Schankerman, William Matcham, and Nishant Shrestha for the Sunwater Institute. Using three distinct methodologies, the report finds that the USPTO grants invalid patents at a low rate (under 9%) while valid claims are rejected far more often, challenging the prevailing narrative of a patent quality crisis.
Read Report →It Is Easy For Multi-Issue Bundles To Advance Anti-Democratic Agendas
Co-authored with Matthew I. Jones and Nicholas A. Christakis. Examines the trade-offs of bundled voting versus issue-by-issue decision-making, finding that while bundling generally yields positive outcomes, it can easily produce results opposite to the majority's preferences on individual issues.
View on arXiv →Measuring Intellectual Property Rights: Existing Indices, Addressing Gaps and Suggestions for Policymakers
Co-authored with Ani Harutyunyan and Mark Cohen for the Sunwater Institute. Examines existing indices for measuring intellectual property rights across countries, identifies critical gaps in current measurement methodologies, and proposes a novel approach evaluating real-world IP outcomes rather than inputs.
Read Report →China Pharmaceutical & Biotech Articles
Regular contributions to international publications about China's pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, providing insights on industry trends and developments.
China: Moving Towards Innovation in Pharma
Analysis of China's transition toward a more innovation-based pharmaceutical industry, examining the country's low-cost skilled workforce, strong life-science research track record, and entrepreneurial culture.
View on PubMed →Transketolase Gene Expression in the Cornea Is Influenced by Environmental Factors and Developmentally Controlled Events
Co-authored with Sax, Kays, Salamon, Xu, and Piatigorsky at the National Eye Institute, NIH. Examined the role of light exposure and eyelid opening in the up-regulation of transketolase gene expression during corneal maturation in mice.
View on PubMed →The Mouse Transketolase (TKT) Gene: Cloning, Characterization, and Functional Promoter Analysis
Co-authored with Sax and Piatigorsky at the National Eye Institute, NIH. Cloned and characterized the mouse TKT gene, finding evidence that oxidative stress may play a role in regulating this gene in the cornea.
View on PubMed →Music
Connection to my bands and solo work. More coming soon.
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Irregular Order
Band and music project, with original songs, arrangements, and recordings to be added here as the project develops.
Visit irregularorder.com →♬
Performances
Highlights from live performances and collaborations with other musicians.
Representative Mike Carey - Bipartisan Politics, Modernizing Congress and Supporting Constituents
Watch on YouTube →How to support current and future constituents - Representative Mike Carey
Watch on YouTube →Budget Evolution and The Executive Branch - Dr. Laura Blessing, Reforming Congress
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Blessing - The Budget Process, Tax Policies and the Politics Around Revenue
Watch on YouTube →The Importance of Bipartisanship for Constituents
Watch on YouTube →Nathaniel Birkhead of University of Colorado - Why Data is an Important Communication Tool
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Nick Hart - How can data improve the government?
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Nick Hart - Policymaking with data and why it's important
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Daniel Stid - Depolarizing American Political Parties
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Daniel Stid - Congressional Oversight and how to strengthen democracy
Watch on YouTube →Representative Emanuel Cleaver - Change and the Power of the United States
Watch on YouTube →Rep. Emanuel Cleaver - Bipartisanship and how to approach polarization between parties
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Lindsey Cormack - How Congress Communicates with Constituents
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Lindsey Cormack - What are congressional e-newsletters and why are they important?
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Philip Wallach: Separation of powers and regulatory policy
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Philip Wallach: What does it mean to be a representative?
Watch on YouTube →Dr. EJ Fagan: Think tanks, information flow and Congress
Watch on YouTube →Dr. EJ Fagan: How think tanks influence politics
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Periloux Peay: The Black experience in Congress
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Perlioux Peay: What makes the Congressional Black Caucus unique?
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Maya Kornberg: The Power of Committees – Agenda Setting
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Maya Kornberg: Congressional Committees and How Congress Works
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Maya Kornberg: How lobbyists support Congress
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Steven Smith: The majority vs the minority: how bipartisanship helps Congress
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Jennifer L. Lawless: Women vs Men: Who Makes Better Legislators?
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Zachary Courser: What did the founders think about government spending?
Watch on YouTube →Rep. Stephanie Bice: A new era in congressional modernization
Watch on YouTube →Rep. Stephanie Bice: Modernizing the Congressional Research Service
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Jennifer Lawless: Political recruitment and diversity
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Jennifer Lawless: Women, politics, and the ambition gap
Watch on YouTube →Mark Cohen: Does China Protect Intellectual Property?
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Daniel Lipinski: The National Deficit and Our Future
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Josh Chafetz: Speech, Parties, and How Congress Operates
Watch on YouTube →How Parties Organize Congress - Josh Chafetz
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Danielle Thomsen, Associate Professor of Political Science
Watch on YouTube →Dr. Danielle Thomsen: How money influences power in Congress
Watch on YouTube →Joel Sievert, PhD. Professor of Political Science at Texas Tech
Watch on YouTube →The Long Term Impact of Parliamentary Procedure Decisions - Joel Sievert, PhD
Watch on YouTube →Women and Policy - Michele Swers
Watch on YouTube →How Senators Use Twitter - Annelise Russell, PhD
Watch on YouTube →Annelise Russell, PhD, Asst. Professor, University of Kentucky - Communication in Congress
Watch on YouTube →What kinds of bills do Black and Latino members of Congress introduce?
Watch on YouTube →Minority Representation in the Democratic Party with Michael Minta
Watch on YouTube →What makes a member of Congress effective?
Watch on YouTube →Jesse Crosson, Asst. Professor, Purdue University
Watch on YouTube →Understanding the Pace of Policymaking
Watch on YouTube →Women and Defense Policy
Watch on YouTube →What is the GPO?
Watch on YouTube →Power Centralization in Congress
Watch on YouTube →Steven Smith, PhD, Professor at Washington University in St. Louis
Watch on YouTube →Daniel Lipinski, Former Representative, PhD in Political Science - Committees in Congress
Watch on YouTube →Daniel Mulhollan - Former Director of CRS
Watch on YouTube →Leonard Steinhorn, Professor at American University, School of Communication
Watch on YouTube →Michele Swers, Professor, Georgetown University
Watch on YouTube →Casey Burgat, Dir. Leg. Affairs Program, Asst. Professor GWU
Watch on YouTube →Zachary Courser, Director of CMC's Policy Lab, Assistant Professor at CMC
Watch on YouTube →Louis Fisher, Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the Constitution Project
Watch on YouTube →Travis Moore, Founder and Executive Director of Tech Congress
Watch on YouTube →Peter Shane, Professor and Davis Chair in Law Emeritus, Ohio State
Watch on YouTube →Hugh Halpern, Director of the U.S. Government Publishing Office
Watch on YouTube →Sandra Strokoff, Former Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives
Watch on YouTube →Charles Johnson, Former Parliamentarian of the U.S. House of Representatives
Watch on YouTube →John Lawrence, Former Chief of Staff to Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Watch on YouTube →Gregory Wawro, Columbia University
Watch on YouTube →Bryan Jones, The University of Texas at Austin
Watch on YouTube →Geoff Lorenz of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Watch on YouTube →Matthew Green, Professor of Politics at The Catholic University of America
Watch on YouTube →Philip Kiko, Former Chief Administrative Officer, U.S. House of Representatives
Watch on YouTube →Katherine Gehl of The Institute for Political Innovation
Watch on YouTube →Tom Wickham, Former Parliamentarian of the U.S. House of Representatives
Watch on YouTube →Timothy LaPira of James Madison University
Watch on YouTube →Kenneth Lowande of the University of Michigan
Watch on YouTube →Alexander Furnas, Asst. Professor at Northwestern University, and Researcher
Watch on YouTube →Fergus Bordewich, Historian and Author
Watch on YouTube →Representative Brian Baird
Watch on YouTube →Keith Allred of the National Institute for Civil Discourse
Watch on YouTube →Scott Adler of the University of Colorado
Watch on YouTube →Josh McCrain of the University of Utah
Watch on YouTube →Representative William Timmons (R-SC)
Watch on YouTube →Rachel Augustine Potter of the University of Virginia
Watch on YouTube →Sean Theriault of The University of Texas
Watch on YouTube →Keith Hall, Former Director of the CBO
Watch on YouTube →Congressman David Price
Watch on YouTube →Michael Neblo of The Ohio State University
Watch on YouTube →Professor Andy Ballard of American University
Watch on YouTube →Matthew Stephenson of Harvard Law School
Watch on YouTube →Sarah Binder of The Brookings Institution
Watch on YouTube →Representative Tom Graves
Watch on YouTube →Ruth Bloch Rubin of the University of Chicago
Watch on YouTube →Chris Stirewalt of The Dispatch
Watch on YouTube →James Wallner of R Street
Watch on YouTube →Professor Michael Minta of University of Minnesota
Watch on YouTube →Nolan McCarty of Princeton University
Watch on YouTube →Jennifer Victor, Associate Professor at the George Mason University (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Jennifer Victor, Associate Professor at the George Mason University (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Michael Thorning, Associate Director of Governance at the Bipartisan Policy Center (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Michael Thorning, Associate Director of Governance at the Bipartisan Policy Center (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Senator Christopher J. Dodd (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Senator Christopher J. Dodd (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Norman Ornstein, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Norman Ornstein, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Mickey Edwards from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Mickey Edwards from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Congressman Derek Kilmer (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Congressman Derek Kilmer (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Timothy Persons of U.S. Governmant Accountability Office (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Timothy Persons of U.S. Governmant Accountability Office (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Allen Schick, Senior Research Professor at the University of Maryland (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Allen Schick, Senior Research Professor at the University of Maryland (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Joshua Huder, Senior Fellow for the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Joshua Huder, Senior Fellow for the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Eric Schickler, Professor at University of California, Berkeley (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Eric Schickler, Professor at University of California, Berkeley (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Maya MacGuineas, President of Bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Maya MacGuineas, President of Bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Kevin Esterling of University of California, Riverside (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Kevin Esterling of University of California, Riverside (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Joseph Matal, Intellectual Property Practice Group at Haynes and Boone, LLP (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Joseph Matal, Intellectual Property Practice Group at Haynes and Boone, LLP (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Daniel Schuman (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Daniel Schuman, Policy Director at Demand Progress and Demand Progress Education Fund (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Donald R Wolfensberger, Former Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Donald R Wolfensberger, Former Director of the Woodrow Wilson Center (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Anthony Madonna, PhD, Professor for the University of Georgia (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Anthony Madonna, PhD, Professor for the University of Georgia (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Betsy Hawkings, Former Congressional Chief of Staff (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Betsy Hawkings, Former Congressional Chief of Staff (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Derek Willis, News Applications Developer at ProPublica (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Derek Willis, News Applications Developer at ProPublica (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Kyle Nevins, Founding Partner at Harbinger Strategies (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Kyle Nevins, Founding Partner at Harbinger Strategies (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Zach Graves, Head of Policy at the Lincoln Network (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Zach Graves, Head of Policy at the Lincoln Network (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Congressman Rodney Davis (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Congressman Rodney Davis (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Mark Strand, President of the Congressional Institute (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Mark Strand, President of the Congressional Institute (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Tony Mills, Senior Fellow of American Enterprise Institute (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Tony Mills, Senior Fellow of American Enterprise Institute (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →James Curry, PhD, Professor at the University of Utah (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →James Curry, PhD, Professor at the University of Utah (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Frances Lee, PhD, Professor of Politics & Public Affairs at Princeton (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Frances Lee, PhD, Professor of Politics & Public Affairs at Princeton (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Kristine Simmons, Vice President, Center for Presidential Transition (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Kristine Simmons, Vice President, Center for Presidential Transition (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Mike Cys, Former Director of Congressional and Public Affairs (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Mike Cys, Former Director of Congressional and Public Affairs (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Matthew Glassman, Senior Fellow of the Government Affairs Institute (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Matthew Glassman, Senior Fellow of the Government Affairs Institute (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Brad Fitch of the Congressional Management Foundation (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Brad Fitch of the Congressional Management Foundation (Part 1)
Watch on YouTube →Craig Volden and Alan Wiseman (Part 2)
Watch on YouTube →Craig Volden of University of Virginia and Alan Wiseman of Vanderbilt University- Reforming Congress
Watch on YouTube →Jonathan Bydlak of R Street - Federal Government Budgeting Process
Watch on YouTube →Lawrence Evans of William & Mary
Watch on YouTube →Jim Townsend and Elise Bean of the Levin Center
Watch on YouTube →Kevin Kosar, Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute
Watch on YouTube →Contact
For ventures, research, or creative work.